The Rabau is an old apple variety from Westphalia and is also known as the Gray French Renette. The medium-sized apples have a greenish-yellow base color and a rough skin. The juicy flesh is tender but tends to become mealy when stored. The variety is robust, not very susceptible to diseases, and thrives in moist, nutrient-rich locations. The Rabau was particularly important in the Westmünsterland region as both a table and a commercial variety.
The Edelborsdorfer is a historic apple variety dating back to the 17th century. It is known for its sweet, aromatic taste and firm, juicy flesh. The Edelborsdorfer was particularly widespread in Westphalia and was valued for its good storability. The fruits are medium to large in size, with yellow-red skin. The Edelborsdorfer is well suited for fresh consumption and processing. The variety is grown in the museum in order to preserve old fruit varieties and the regional cultural landscape.
The Danziger Kantapfel has flat ribs, which are the noticeable ridges on the apple skin. This variety is therefore classified as a Kantapfel, meaning “ribbed apple”. Its origin is unclear: some believe it comes from Danzig, others from the Netherlands, where it was first described in 1760. The fruit is usually pentagonal with a sharp seam on one side. It is pressure-sensitive and often tolerable for people with apple allergies. The Danziger Kantapfel also grows in harsh high altitudes and has low demands on soil and location. It is ready for picking from mid-October and can be stored until January.
The Rote Sternrenette, meaning “Red Star Renette” got its name from the star-shaped spots on its red skin, which is reflected in regional names such as “Sternappel” (Münsterland), meaning “star apple”. Spread from the Lower Rhine region since 1830, it could be found in almost every orchard in Westphalia. Despite its loosely hanging fruit, it was often planted along roadsides because of its steeply growing crown. As a late bloomer, it is robust, suitable for higher altitudes, and usually tolerable for people with apple allergies. The Red Star Renette is ready for harvest from October and can be stored until January, which is why it used to be particularly popular as a Christmas apple. Due to its small fruit, the variety has become rare today.
The Köstliche aus Charneux, meaning “the Delicious from Charneux”, known as Legipont in Belgium, was discovered around 1800 by M. Legipont. In northern Germany, it is called the Mayor’s Pear. Pomologist Adrian Diel first described it in 1825. Until 1920, it was one of the three most important pear varieties in the German Empire. Due to its slender, upright growth, it is well suited for cultivation along roadsides. The pear is ready for picking from late September to mid-October and ready for consumption by November. It is ideal for preserving, drying, and juicing.
The Hauszwetschge, meaning “house plum,” is an old, robust variety of plum that has been cultivated in Central Europe for centuries. It is characterized by its sweet-sour taste and elongated shape. The fruits ripen in late summer and are versatile, for example, in cakes, compotes, or as dried fruit. Hauszwetschgen are resistant to disease and thrive in orchards. Old varieties of Hauszwetschgen are cultivated in the museum to preserve genetic diversity and traditional fruit growing.
