Half-timbered houses from the 15th to 17th centuries are quite common in Germany. The ones below can be found in Uslar, a little town in the mountains surrounding the Weser river (the Weserbergland).
Driving through those litte towns and villages and having a walk along the Weser is just the thing to do on a sunny Sunday afternoon in September.
Most towns put quite some effort into keeping the old houses in good condition which isn't always easy because the renovation of those half-timbered houses requires the revival of ancient techniques.
"requires the revival of ancient techniques"
ReplyDeleteBut..but... they look cool! Should be worth the effort to restore them, I would think. :) I found pictures I took from a stay in Bad Tölz (years ago), and many of them are pics of timbered houses - I think. At least they look the same. I must have been enamoured of them, there are quite a few! And very well taken care of. The houses seem to be what says "Germany" to a lot of people.
They are worth the effort, and towns try hard to keep them. But sometimes it's a money problem, esp. for private owners. There's one where I live that's being dabbled with for years now because of changing ownership and all, but it looks like they've finally found the money to finish renovations.
ReplyDeleteThose houses are awesome looking. They've got character, something sorely lacking in today's oversized shoe box houses. Great pictures, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI imagine restoration is hellishly expensive.
ReplyDeleteAnn, yes they have personalities. I suppose some even have ghosts. :)
ReplyDeleteBernita, it can ruin you if you inherit such a house. The government gives credits, but it's still often easier to sell it.
Damn, but they're pretty. I can't help but wish we had some of those here, but most of our old buildings were constructed using convict labour and the local sandstone.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have many old buildings like this. They're so lovely with loads of character. I bet they could tell a story or two if they could talk.
ReplyDeleteAre the older buildings protected over there like they are in Britain where you can't just rip them down?
I think they look great.
ReplyDeleteJaye, I'm glad to live surrounded by so much history and beauty.
ReplyDeleteShelley,
I bet they can.
You can't rip houses built before about 1920 down without consulting the local government, and in case the house is special (as those half timebered ones all are) and it's not going to crash onto people's heads any time soon, you'll have to preserve it.
They do, Marie.
They look like the historically German neighborhoods in Chicago or any older neighborhood in Milwaukee. Of course you are talking about real half-timbered houses.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, they're real. Some beams carry marks of Mediaeval carpenter guilds.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks so clean. I love that look! And it looks so German. LOL!
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