German Half-Timbered House Road

8/8/2019 German Half-Timbered House Road

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From the River Elbe tothe Weser Hills

From the Meadows ofthe Elbe Valley to the

Harz Mountains

From the HarzMountains to theThuringian Forest

From the Weser Hills via North Hesse to the

Vogelsberg Mountains andthe Spessart Uplands

From the Lahn Valleyto the Rheingau Region

From the River Rhineto the River Main and

the Odenwald Forest

From the RiverNeckar to the

Black Forest andLake Constance

GermanHalf-TimberedHouse Road

A complete overviewof the regional routes


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Welcome

Dear Guests of the German Half-Timbered House Road,

we’re pleased to welcome you here. You’ll see it’s worth your while. Enjoy the

fascination of timber frame construction on a more than 2800 km long route.

The German Half-Timbered House Road, founded in 1990, runs meanwhile

from the river Elbe to the Black Forest through six federal states (Lower

Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Hesse, Thuringia, Bavaria and Baden Wuerttem-

berg) and is divided into seven regional routes.

In the meantime, nearly 100 timber frame towns have joined up under theslogan ”Half-Timbered unites“ in order to coordinate their marketing. The

German Half-Timbered House Road doesn’t only join unique landscapes,

historic sites and carefully restored monuments but above all the people

who live and work there.

Health resorts and festival locations alternate with nature parks and

romantic nooks. Cider and Bock beer were invented here and hardly any

other tourist route can offer its guests such a variety of culinary delights.

Germany’s northern most vineyard, the biggest Christmas candle in the

world and Germany’s only Ivory Museum are all located on the German

Half-Timbered House Road.

Many events, festivals and markets offer the visitor variety and entertain-

ment throughout the whole year.

Whether you travel by car, by bicycle, by train or in a motorhome –

discover the old craft and living traditional customs on this historical trail.

We would like to invite you to a tour full of culture and adventure along

the German Half-Timbered House Road.

If you need any further information, please contact our office in Fulda

(address overleaf).

Enjoy reading this brochure and planning your trip.

Head Office

German Half-Timbered House Road


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Timber frame towns and villages are still characteristic of many landscapes

in Germany. More than 2.5 million half-timbered buildings are the apparel

and pride of communities and proprietors.

The base for half-timbered building was timber. The characteristic featuresof wood, climatic conditions and the art of carpenters are crucial for the

dimensions and shapes of half-timbered houses.

Timber frame structures are a skeleton construction method which saves

wood with self-supporting timber and curtain struts filled with clay or

bricks: a highly ecological, environmentally sustainable and aestheticbuilding method.

The half-timbered buildings in Northern Germany are essentially based on

the Lower German hangar-house where people, animals and the harvest

were united under one roof. Central German timber frame is characterized

by the triple-zone Ern-house with open eaves which served primarily as a

dwelling. The timber frame in Southern Germany was developed from the

Alemannic floor-type building, a precursor building method with wide

column positions.

With half-timbered houses we are stepping into the way of life and

buildings of past centuries. Here we encounter living evidence with an

abundance of shapes, apparel and symbolism, e.g. Andrew’s cross (the

other cross of the Germanic people) which in Christian times became

St. Andrew’s cross commemorating holy St. Andrew who was nailed to a

slanted cross. Savages as well as fanned rosettes, flared and straight

rhombuses but also a large variety of trees of life to Christian symbolism

all belong to the apparel of half-timbered buildings constructed in

traditional craftsmanship.

But timber frame constructions are not only individual jewels: streets,

squares, even entire timber frame places are characterized by incompara-

ble town- or villagescapes well worth being protected as historical

monuments.

Professor Manfred Gerner

Timber Frame in Germany


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Lower German Timber Frameis characterized by two- and four-column constructions for

large hangar-houses with a central hall accessible from the

street. The ground plan of these houses consists of three

naves. Originally, the side naves were sheds, the central nave

was the hall and the bedrooms faced the garden. Especially intowns, the basic ground plan was changed early whereby the

typical ”Utluchten“ developed.

Central German Timber Frameis spread in all medium-altitude mountains as far as the

Neckar in the south, to Poland in the east and to the French

Alsace in the west. Mostly, the gables of these houses face

the street and the latter are divided into zones: the

”parlour“ is in front, then come the kitchen and stairway

and the bedrooms are in the back. Sheds, the crop storage

and the bakehouse were mostly in separate buildings and in

larger settlements the houses were adapted to urban

conditions.

Upper German Timber FrameIn the region between the river Neckar and Lake Constance,

Black Forest and Bohemian Forest an independent type of house

with wide column positions and double frame beams developed

from the Alemannic floor-type building in 14th century. In 15th

and 16th century more and more construction methods were

adopted from Central Germany until the basic contruction

methods became identical about 1600.

Andrew’s CrossAs a sign for multiplication, our early ancestors, the Germanic

people, used ”the other cross“ which we still use in calculators.

In Christian times, the other cross was re-interpreted as

St. Andrew’s cross commemorating holy St. Andrew. In the

flared form, St. Andrew’s cross is also called ”firedog“.

Fanned RosetteEspecially in Lower Germany, the fanned rosette appears as

an ornamental motif in the first third of 16th century and

adopts a dominant role as breast apparel in the following

centuries. The origin is supposed to be the shape of a shell

but also symbols of the sun.

Grudger HeadsIn the Middle Ages, one of the evils against which one had to

defend oneself was not only ”the evil eye“ but also envy.

Therefore ”Grudger Heads“, frowning heads or figures sticking

out their tongues to grudgers, were fixed on the front of

half-timbered houses.

German Half-Timbered House Road – Timber Frame Styles


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The variety of land-

scapes of the regional

stretch from the

River Elbe to the

Weser Hills could

hardly be any greater.

On this stretch a

tour through the

most diverse scenic

landscapes of Lower

Saxony awaits you.

Beginning at the

North Sea Coast via

the North GermanLowlands with the

Central Weser

Region, the Leine Valley to the Weser Hills, you are welcomed by towns

that all have an independent timber frame character. Not only the

different building materials available are responsible for this.

The various cultures of coastal inhabitants, people living along rivers and

in uplands are reflected in the buildings themselves.

The towns are characterized by century-old crafts and became known

beyond the German borders through their trading and beer brewing

traditions.

Many places are the scenes of century-old customs, legends and myths

that come alive again in medieval town festivals.

Exploration by bicycle, best from south to north, is particularly recom-

mendable on this part of the German Half-Timbered House Road. The

cyclist will reach the mouth of the River Elbe from the hilly south of

Lower Saxony without any larger slopes travelling along secondary roads

and country lanes.

447 km

From the River Elbe to the Weser Hills

Stade

Nienburg

Bad Essen

Einbeck

Alfeld

Northeim

Stadthagen


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From the River Elbe

up to the rivulet Hahle

you can find manifold

landscapes: be it the

Wendland Heath, the

Margravate Altmark,

the Lueneburg Heath,

the Brunswick region,

the Harz Mountains or

the Eichsfeld region.

You will encounter

century-old timber

frame at every turn.

The action of dukes,

princes and kings hasproduced sites with

outstanding evidence of European cultural history. Experience places that

document building history as in a vivid textbook.

Owners and inhabitants as well as towns and communities have perceived

the value of historic half timbered work as individual creations ofcraftsmanship and as unrepeatable contributions to the development of

towns and villages. Timber frame is valued and fondly maintained.

Museums of the most diverse kind, old treasures and new design-icons will

thrill you. From the cathedral treasure in Halberstadt via the round villages

of the Wendland Heath, from the Lower Saxon stud farm to the Book of

Gospels of Henry the Lion, from the Museum of Mechanical Music

Instruments via the Brocken in the Harz Mountains – look forward to

pulsating life, culture and nature.

Take your time and enjoy the secluded patios, the cosy restaurants and

cafés and the various shopping possibilities while strolling around the

timber frame towns. From hiking via cycling, riding, golf and aquatic

sports up to gliding, a comprehensive offer of leisure facilities awaits you.

Discover the charm and the individual attractions of the timber frame

towns from the meadows of the Elbe Valley to the Harz Mountains.

537 km

From the Meadows of the Elbe Valley to the Harz Mountains

Bockenem

Bleckede

Hitzacker

Dannenberg

Luechow

Salzwedel

Celle

Koenigslutter

Hornburg

Duderstadt

Osterwieck

Halberstadt

Wernigerode

Osterode

Wolfenbuettel


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The people living between the

Harz Mountains and

Thuringian Forest have for

generations been used to

adopting cultural influences

from all over and giving them

their own character. The

architectural styles from

Gothic to Historicism,

regional particularities from

Lower Saxony to Southern

Germany and ultimately the

function of representative town halls to labourer homes all contributed to

creating a multitude of timber frame designs.

The clearly structured construction and the palmette as a feature of Lower

Saxon timber frame can thus be seen best in the towns of Stolberg and

Worbis. Wanfried, once the terminus of the Werra-Weser navigation,

reflects these contacts also in its timber frame. The former ”Potash-Town“

Bleicherode is a rare example of the temporary revival of the timber frame

architecture at the end of the 19th century. ”Thuringian Ladder“ and”Savage“ as constructive elements of timber frame building become

increasingly important moving from the town of Muehlhausen via the

Werra Curve including the towns of Treffurt and Vacha. In Schmalkalden

finally, a special style combining Hessian and Franconian elements

dominates the historical town centre.

During this tour the visitor can admire carefully restored timber frame and

historic buildings (stone testimony of times long past) in all eight towns,

hike along the traces of historic personalities, enjoy the hospitality of the

locals and relax in a varied medium-altitude landscape.

204 km

From the Harz Mountains to the Thuringian Forest

Stolberg

Bleicherode

Muehlhausen

Treffurt

Vacha

Schmalkalden

Wanfried

Worbis


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From the Weser Hills via

North Hesse to the

Vogelsberg Mountains

and the Spessart

Uplands – one of the

most varying timber

frame regions lies

ahead of you. It is no

coincidence that the

constitution of the

German Half-Timbered

House Road started in

this region in 1990.

Powerful patron saints – from Charlemagne via the Lower Saxon Welf Dukesto the Hessian Landgraves and Prince-Electors – helped the historical

towns to establish wealth and artistic development with trade privileges.

The variety of timber frame styles and designs with influences from Lower

Saxony, Hesse, Thuringia and Franconia and even Italy is unique.

On this regional stretch the German Half-Timbered House Road leadsthrough beautiful river valleys with medieval sandstone bridges across the

rivers Weser, Fulda, Werra, Eder and Schwalm, contacts legendary mountains

such as the Hoher Meissner – also called ”Mother Hulda Mountain“ – the

Knuell or the Vogelsberg and presents timber frame not only in the

historic towns but also in numerous picturesque villages along the route.

Hann. Muenden, the timber frame and three-river town, the gold mining

at Eisenberg Mountain near Korbach, Lauterbach, the ”Town of the Lost

Sock“, the oldest timber frame church in Hesse in Gelnhausen, the biggest

folk festival in North Hesse in Bad Arolsen, the Reformation town of

Homberg (River Efze), the lumberjack town of Melsungen, the Bad

Hersfeld Festival and the oldest local folk festival in Germany as well as

the many fairy tale characters one encounters at every turn in the Grimm

Brother town of Steinau, stand quintessentially for the unprecedented

cultural diversity of the 22 member towns.

591 km

From the Weser Hills via North Hesse to the VogelsbergMountains and the Spessart Uplands

Schlitz

Lauterbach

Steinau a. d. Strasse

Gelnhausen

Buedingen

Butzbach

Gruenberg

Lich

Rotenburga. d. Fulda

Hann.Muenden

SpangenbergMelsungenFritzlar

Schwalmstadt

Alsfeld

Bad Arolsen

WolfhagenKorbach

Bad Hersfeld

Eschwege

HessischLichtenau

Homberg (Efze)


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Join us on a tour to the nicest

timber frame towns ”From the

Lahn Valley to the Rheingau

Region“. From the heights of

the Lahn Mountains and the

banks of the River Dill our

tour takes us to spruce towns

near the River Lahn and right

into the wine-growing

regions on the Rhine.

Dillenburg’s landmark, the

”Wilhelmsturm“ (William’s Tower) on the ”Schlossberg“ (Castle Hill)

commemorates William of Orange and gives the visitor a superb view of the

timber frame ensemble in the town centre. Herborn’s splendid old town is

a unique timber frame gem with many monuments such as the academy”Hohe Schule“ (university), the crest-adorned town hall on the romantic

market square and the thousand-year-old ”Stadtkirche“ (Town Church).

What makes Wetzlar well worth seeing are among other the Cathedral and

the view of the wonderful timber frame-old town from the tower ruin

Kalsmunt. In Braunfels the tranquil market square, the impressive oldtown and the fabulous palace invite the visitor to linger again and again.

Surrounded by nice promenades, Hadamar presents itself as a royal jewel

with the Renaissance palace of the Princes of Nassau-Hadamar. In Limburg

charming winding alleys with a varied play of timber frame fronts lead up

to the cathedral and palace.

Bad Camberg – the oldest Kneipp spa town in Hesse – boasts gems such as

the Sadony’sche House, the Amthof Gallery or the ”Obertorturm“ (Upper

Gate Tower).

Idstein impresses the visitor with the ”König-Adolf-Platz“ (King Adolf Square)

with its densely built timber frame houses, the ”Unionskirche“ (Union Curch)

with its splendid interior decor and the ”Hexenturm“ (Witch Tower).

In Eltville, the town of vines, roses and the Rhine, one can enjoy the

timber frame with a glass of Rheingau Riesling.

170 km

From the Lahn Valley to the Rheingau Region

Dillenburg

Braunfels

Hadamar

Limburg

Bad Camberg

Idstein

Eltville

Herborn

Wetzlar


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On the traces of Romans, the Nibelungen and Charlemagne, this varied

regional stretch extends from the ”Royal Shooting Right“ up to the green

heights of the Odenwald Forest and from South Hesse to Baden

Wuerttemberg, Bavaria and Lower Franconia.

Discover a millenium of medieval castle and palace architecture, opulent

ornamentation coupled with vivid and traditional customs in the midst of

magnificent forests and romantic valleys.

Numerous variants in ornamentation, opulently adorned bays and

elaborate window constructions characterize the timber frame betweenthe rivers Rhine and Main, the Spessart Uplands and the Odenwald Forest.

It reflects the importance and thriving of timber frame towns as early as

the Middle Ages in this region.

But this half-timbered house route from the River Rhine to the River Main

and the Odenwald Forest can be discovered not only on foot or by

motorhome. This region offers especially cyclists many places of interest,

well-developed paths and scenic landscapes.

Great importance is attached to exquisite hospitality with particular

regional specialities in this region. Whether on a flying visit or on holiday,

whether with backpack, by bicycle or train – one cannot miss the historic

town centres and the charmingly located farms.

203 km

From the River Rhine to the River Main and theOdenwald Forest

Hanau-Steinheim

Seligenstadt

Babenhausen

Gross-Umstadt

Wertheim

Miltenberg

WallduernErbach

Reichelsheim

Dieburg

Dreieich

Trebur


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The star-shaped regional

route in Southern

Germany leads fromMosbach in the Neckar

Valley to the Black Forest

as well as the town of

Meersburg on Lake

Constance. Here you

will encounter fertile

farmland, steep vineyards,

meadows with colourful

fruit trees scattered all

over them, vast forests as

well as untouched

waters, moors, pic-

turesque mountains and

wide valleys.

24 timber frame towns with a medieval flair and romantic aura are located

along this regional route and present the visitor all the different styles of

Southwest German timber frame, mostly consisting of the “Alemannic” and

”Franconian“ type of timber frame. Just how multi-faceted Southwest

German timber frame is, follows from the long period as well as the diverse

types of construction and the decorative splendour. Magnificent timber

frame buildings of the 13th to the 19th century embellish these historic

towns. The oldest existing houses can be found in the Central Neckar

Region, such as in the towns of Esslingen or Markgroeningen as well as in

Upper Swabia, such as in Biberach an der Riss.

The holiday regions Odenwald Forest, Northern and Central Black Forest, the

Swabian Jura and Lake Constance-Upper Swabia as well as the wild and

romantic valleys of the rivers Neckar, Enz, Kinzig, Riss or Danube offer a

change and recreation. This coexistence of lovely landscapes and timberframe silhouettes lets the dreaminess of ancient towns come alive again and

offers the ambience to ”get away from it all“. Naturally the age old tradition

of holding markets is still vivid. Markets and festivals are a special attraction

for visitors which make the towns hum with life. Just stroll along the alleys

of our towns and sense the spirit of bygone days at many a place.

560 km

From the River Neckar to the Black Forest andLake Constance

Mosbach

Besigheim

Waiblingen

Schorndorf

Kirchheim unter Teck

Blaubeuren

Bietigheim-Bissingen

Vaihingen a.d. Enz

Eppingen

Markgroeningen

Calw

DornstettenBad Urach

Herrenberg

Esslingen

Altensteig

Riedlingen

Pfullendorf

Biberach

a.d. Riss

Meersburg

Schiltach

Haslach

BacknangMarbach


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Make your choice from our comprehensive offer we have compiled for

you:

• Road maps of the seven regional stretches

• Hotel directory with hotel suggestions along the routes• Calendar of events

For the tour by motorhome or by vintage car, we provide specific

information, e.g. in our

• Motorhome pitch list

Information leaflets of the German Half-TimberedHouse Road


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Deutsche Fachwerkstraße

Propstei Johannesberg

36041 Fulda

Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 6 61/4 36 80

Fax: +49 (0) 6 61/94 25 03 66

e-mail: [email protected]

You are welcome to order these publications from us. In this case, please

contact our office in Fulda, call us or send us an email.

Detailed information on the regional stretches and towns, guided city

tours, festivals and special events can be found on our internet sites:

www.deutsche-fachwerkstrasse.de

Kind regards,

Head Office

German Half-Timbered House Road


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Imprint:

Publisher:German Half-Timbered House Road

Head Office:Deutsche FachwerkstraßePropstei Johannesberg36041 Fulda

Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 6 61/4 36 80Fax: +49 (0) 6 61/94 25 03 66

[email protected]

All rights reserved.

Layout:Greb&Friends, Fulda

October 2009

German Half-Timbered House Road

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