The Grassmayr family has been casting bells continuously for 14 generations.
Bells are cast using a blend of 78% copper and 22% tin, known as 'bell bronze'.
The foundry creates custom tuning forks to ensure every bell hits specific musical notes.
Their bells are manufactured to survive for centuries, with many expected to last over 500 years.
The onsite 'sound room' uses scientific equipment to demonstrate how different shapes affect bell resonance.
The foundry produces carillons, some consisting of over 50 individual bells.
The museum documents the transition from medieval wood-fired furnaces to modern computer-controlled gas furnaces.
The Grassmayr Bell Foundry is a historic family-owned operation in Innsbruck that has been producing bells since 1599. It currently functions as both a working foundry and a multimedia bell museum. The museum showcases the technical process of bell casting, including metallurgy, mold making, and acoustic tuning. Visitors can observe the active casting pit where molten bronze is poured into clay molds. The facility displays a collection of historical bells from various centuries and geographic origins. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experiment with sound frequencies and vibration patterns in a dedicated sound room. The site serves as a global supplier, having cast bells for churches and towers in over 100 countries. It remains one of the few places worldwide where industrial bell casting can be viewed in a traditional, multi-generational setting.
The large historical bell displayed in the courtyard garden.
Visit during the scheduled live casting demonstrations if available on your day of arrival.
Spend extra time in the sound laboratory to test how different metal thicknesses change the pitch.
The shop offers small decorative hand-bells that are cast in the same facility as the large tower bells.
Do not attempt to touch the molds or equipment in the foundry area, as they can be extremely hot or fragile.
Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
