Have you ever wanted to walk around in a time capsule? The Hessenpark Open Air Museum, beautifully positioned in the Taunus Mountains in the German state of Hesse, is exactly that. To date, more than 100 houses and structures from all around Germany were relocated here as part of a large-scale preservation project. Buildings range from a small, historic synagogue and 15^th-century chapel to a village school, post office, bakery, windmill, blacksmithing shop and a 1950s pub. There’s even the Ark Park — a farm home to rare heritage breeds of pigs, Vorwerk chickens, Rhön sheep and other animals.

The site was established in 1974 in the small town of Neu-Anspach. Some of the buildings are original to the location, built of stone and wood. Many of the buildings were donated to the park, developed around those original structures and include numerous original furnishings and an estimated 200,000 objects that help tell the story of life in other ages and regions.

After entering the park, visitors are thrust into another time in the bricked marketplace square. Depending upon the time of year, the wide space is also the location of a cheese festival, Christmas market and farmers market. While you’re following one of the many routes through the 160-acre site, you’ll also come upon exhibitions, oral presentations and demonstrations of textile making, bread baking and other historic crafts. There’s even an orchard with an ancient strain of apple trees. Themed tours are available, with guides in period dress who help visitors make the transition from present-day life to past eras with expert commentary. Stay for a snack or meal at Zum Adler Inn or the Alter Markt restaurant.