Here comes Hobbiton Cave—the world’s largest museum dedicated to The Lord of the Rings, bringing movie scenes back to life

By Rita

Last week, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies was just released—did you see it?

If you’re a die-hard fan of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series, then don’t miss this important piece of news. According to the U.S. independent media outlet rawstoryreporting, a Lord of the Rings fan from Switzerland, Bernd Greisinger, was once a fund manager, but he now has a very special new identity—“museum curator.” He has opened the world’s first museum themed around J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, housing numerous collectibles from the “Middle-earth” universe described in the books.

▲ The world’s first museum themed around J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, housing numerous collectibles from the “Middle-earth” universe (Photo /Greisinger Museum fan page)

This private museum is located in the town of Jenins, about an hour’s drive south of Zurich, covering an area of approximately 1,000 square meters. It features 11 exhibition rooms showcasing various scenes from the novels, as well as 3,500 books and 600 pieces of artwork.

Upon arriving at the museum, visitors can quickly spot the familiar Hobbit hole, which, upon closer inspection, stands at about 1.5 meters high.

▲ The museum’s starting point is a 1.5-meter-high Hobbit hole (Photo /tolkiengateway.net)

This is the beginning of the journey. Once inside the house, you’ll see many handcrafted wooden chairs and a large table displaying a map of Middle-earth. “We want to give visitors the authentic feeling of being inside a Hobbit hole,” said curator Greisinger.

▪ Guides lead visitors along a winding route through several rooms: the “Gondor Room” spans two floors and features a spiral staircase and white columns; the “Wilderland Room” showcases the “Gates of Argonath”; and the “Moria Room” includes a 4-meter-tall Balrog installation. In addition, there are many rare books that can be viewed by appointment.

▲ The museum contains eleven exhibition rooms showcasing various scenes from the novels, as well as 3,500 books and 600 pieces of artwork (Photo /www.nytimes.com)

Greisinger believes that the films directed by Peter Jackson are just one interpretation of the novels, and his goal in establishing the museum is to broaden readers’ and visitors’ understanding of Tolkien’s literary world by connecting it with more related elements.

The museum opened in October 2013. Although only about 3,000 visitors have come so far, with the release of the final installment, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, this month, more Lord of the Rings fans are expected to visit. Taiwanese fans, don’t miss out either!