The Call of the Mountains. Alphorns & Co.

What do a broom, a walking stick and a toilet have in common with an alphorn? The Hammerschmiede and Stockerhof Naichen Museum explores this and many other questions and curiosities surrounding the alphorn in its new exhibition, ‘The Call of the Mountains: Alphorns & Co.’. It showcases selected pieces from the collection of alphorn expert and curator Franz Schüssele.
Their size is impressive, their sound unmistakable – alphorns stand out in many ways. Franz Schüssele is a collector, musician and alphorn specialist. He owns more than 100 natural horns and alphorns, making his one of the world’s largest private collections of these wind instruments. Very special exhibits – ranging from a Swiss alphorn almost four metres long to a Tibetan dung cheng and an Australian didgeridoo – can be seen from 10 May to 1 November at the Hammerschmiede and Stockerhof Naichen Museum in the new exhibition “The Call of the Mountains. Alphorns & Co.”
Horn-like instruments are found in many cultures. Whilst the instruments were initially used to produce only simple signals, their manufacture has been perfected over the course of history to the point where they are now used as fully-fledged musical instruments. The exhibition therefore showcases numerous contemporary and historical instruments from all over the world. Visitors can marvel at alphorns from Switzerland and Austria measuring up to four metres in length, as well as natural horns from Africa, Central Asia, South America, Romania, Poland and Scandinavia. Curiosities such as a broom alphorn, a walking stick alphorn and a toilet alphorn in G are also on display. Alphorns are also hugely popular in Swabia. Evi Heigl from the Swabian District Folk Music Advisory Centre has designed a dedicated section in collaboration with the museum: here, visitors can learn just how widespread alphorns are in the Allgäu region. This is because, in the 1950s, targeted promotional measures succeeded in establishing the instruments as a regional speciality.
The exhibition is open from 10 May to 1 November every Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm, as well as on Whit Monday, 25 May. On the opening day, collector, curator and alphorn expert Franz Schüssele will be offering a taster session for the curious at 1 pm. 26 July is Alphorn Day: from 1 pm to 5 pm, concerts by regional alphorn groups, an alphorn taster session, guided tours of the special exhibition, as well as coffee and cake at the Stockerhof in Naichen, will be drawing visitors to the area.

Last edited on 13.05.2026