Valley Museum Chasa Retica

Until the end of the 1970s the farmhouse was private property. However, as the building had been unoccupied for a longer period, no modernization had taken place. This proved to be very advantageous when the old Engadiner house under-went restoration. The Samnaun community acquired the building and used it on occasions as a storage. Unfortunately the utensils and objects belonging to the house had disappeared before the purchase. Thanks to the initiative of the community, in collaboration with the cantonal ancient monuments trust, an extensive and expensive restoration of the building began in 1984. The aim was not only to preserve  the historical house for future generations but also to establish the museum within it.

The local history collection of the valley museum was therefore housed in the restored farmhouse. The museum displays in different rooms the life of a typical Samnaun farming family from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The objects  were collected by the "Commission Retica" in  laborious 'spade-work'. So today a complete, clearly arranged local history exhibition in the museum is presented to the public.