"Gingerbread houses" in Germany and who lives in them well
One of the symbols of Germany is the traditional half-timbered houses (Fachwerkhaus), built on the territory of the country in the XIV-XIX centuries. And if for tourists this is another unusual attraction, then for local residents "Fakhverki" is a familiar picture, and often also their own housing.
To me, they always reminded me of the gingerbread house from the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Their view is really fabulous: angular roofs, low oak doors, small windows with carved platbands, white facades with an intricate pattern of oak beams. But what's behind the attractive wrapper? How does it feel to live in an eighteenth century house or even older?
Let's take a look inside the "gingerbread house". Such houses were built for large families of peasants and artisans and united several generations under one roof. Everything you need had to fit in a small area. Hence there are many small rooms, narrow corridors, a cellar with a wine cellar, and sometimes a stable attached next to it. The low ceilings immediately catch the eye, seeming even lower due to the oak beams supporting them.
It will obviously be cramped here for a tall person, but there are also advantages: warmth and comfort. The rooms have a fresh scent of wood, and solid oak floors creak underfoot. Another plus: environmental friendliness. The frames were filled with everything they could get hold of: straw and clay, brick, stone. Such walls literally "breathe". But for me the main advantage of half-timbered houses is their rich history. Just imagine how much these walls have seen, standing for several centuries.
Fakhverki also have their drawbacks: they often lack modern communications, there is little light due to narrow windows, and repairs are often necessary. But the main problem, in my opinion, is that the owners cannot rebuild Fachwerk, repaint or make any other changes to its appearance. Traditional houses are protected by the state as architectural monuments. Therefore, any repair is primarily bureaucratic red tape and strict regulations.
Fachwerkhaus is a house for those who are not afraid to work with their hands, ready to put up with cramped conditions and minor everyday inconveniences. For those who prefer traditional style in both the exterior and interior decoration of the house.
Would you dare to settle in a real architectural monument? Would you like to feel like the owner of the "gingerbread house"?
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