Totenbretter Plaque

What whispers do these weathered boards hold? Here at the Madltenne, part of the Salzburg Open-Air Museum, we find the Totenbretter plaque. It’s a replica, preserving the stories etched onto the original Totenbretter, or “death boards”. These boards, some 150 cm long and 30 cm wide, bear faded names, dates, and hints of lives lived. They speak of a time before coffins were common. The deceased, wrapped in white linen, were laid upon these very boards. They were carried to their final resting place on these simple wooden platforms. Sometimes, the board accompanied the body into the grave. Other times, in a ritual called “Brettlrutschen,” the body was slid into the earth from the board. Afterward, the Totenbretter might be burned, repurposed, or preserved as a memorial. Imagine these boards, displayed on the deceased’s farm, a nearby building, or along a familiar path. Passersby would see the board and remember the departed soul. The weathering of the Totenbretter was crucial. People believed a soul found peace only when its board had decayed. Exposure to the elements hastened this process. Some even used the boards as walkways, accelerating their disintegration. The original boards, dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, are now safely stored. The Totenbretter plaque here at the Madltenne ensures their stories endure. It’s a tangible link to a time when life and death were intertwined with the rhythm of the rural landscape. These boards offer a poignant glimpse into Salzburg’s past, whispering tales of lives lived and remembered.