Opening of the Raiffeisenhaus for the Flammersfeld Regional Market

The Raiffeisen ambassadors take you back in time. Experience up close how people lived in Raiffeisen's era and discover genuine relics from the time of the famous cooperative founder.

The Raiffeisenhaus (Raiffeisenstr. 11, 57632 Flammersfeld) was the workplace of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, who served as mayor of the “Samtgemeinde” (another name for Verbandsgemeinde) Flammersfeld here from 1848-1852 and lived here with his family.

In 1849, he founded the “Flammersfelder Hülfsverein zur Unterstützung unbemittelter Landwirthe,” the world’s first credit union.

In the original rooms on two floors, you will learn a lot about his life, living conditions, and the development of his well-known cooperative idea, founded on his motto, “What one cannot accomplish alone, many can accomplish together,” during the guided tour.

The idea and practice of organizing cooperatives was recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.

Start your little journey through time on the ground floor, where you will find his official office, as well as his workplace and the kitchen-living area. The upper floor, accessible via the old creaky staircase, is entirely dedicated to his cooperative concept.

On the upper floor, there is a dedicated room for student cooperatives to work on their projects. School classes regularly come here to work on their cooperative initiatives.

The house displays documents, literature, and information panels as well as digital media illustrating Raiffeisen’s work, along with special exhibits and souvenirs to discover.

There is also plenty to explore outside. The 250-year-old timber-framed house is surrounded by a large garden equipped with numerous information panels, a reconstructed bakery, and a farmhouse garden. Benches in the garden invite you to relax in good weather.

Note on accessibility:

The ground floor is accessible without barriers from the garden. However, the first floor can only be reached by stairs.