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The Kutscherbau in Webergasse in Esslingen am Neckar (BW). Behind number 8 lies the oldest half-timbered house in Germany. © IMAGO/Schöning
There are still countless half-timbered houses, especially in the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb. But the oldest half-timbered house still preserved is in the Stuttgart region.
The creative and beautiful state of Baden-Württemberg is not only the birthplace of important technological innovations such as the automobile. It is also a haven of historical architecture. A special gem is the oldest preserved half-timbered house in Germany, which is even still inhabited.
The architectural treasure of Esslingen: Germany’s oldest half-timbered house
This architectural jewel is located at Webergasse 8 in Esslingen am Neckar, near Stuttgart. The wooden house, which was built in 1266/1267 near the Esslingen City Library, has survived for centuries thanks to progressive construction methods. Before the 13th century, load-bearing wooden posts were often set directly into the ground, which led to rotting after about 30 to 50 years.
But in the second half of the 13th century, this changed: the posts were placed on stone bases, which significantly extended their lifespan.
Half-timbered houses and half-timbered construction
Half-timbered houses are traditional buildings in which the supporting structure consists of a wooden framework filled with panels made of different materials.
Characteristics:
– Wooden scaffolding: Load-bearing structure made of wooden beams that remains visible.
– Compartments: Gaps in the wooden framework, traditionally filled with clay, bricks or half-timbered stones.
– Overhanging upper floors: Characteristic construction with cantilevered floors.
– Decorations: Carvings and artistic decorations on beams and facades.
The half-timbered house in Esslingen am Neckar is also Germany’s oldest residential building
According to an older report in the Stuttgarter Zeitung, there is even a half-timbered house in Esslingen am Neckar that is several years older than the one in Webergasse. In this case, however, little of the original construction has been preserved over time, while the half-timbered house in Weberstraße still has the original medieval construction.
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The house is still inhabited and is therefore Germany’s oldest residential building. The second-hand fashion store “Chamäleon” is located on the ground floor. Speaking of superlatives: In Baden-Württemberg is also home to the narrowest street in the worlddie SÜDWEST24 in more detail.
Tradition meets modernity: half-timbered construction still alive in Baden-Württemberg
The half-timbered house is the best-known use of timber framing in house construction in Germany and Switzerland. Half-timbered construction, in which the horizontal stabilization of the wooden skeleton is reinforced by diagonally installed struts, was mentioned as early as 33 BC. However, the term half-timbered house has only been used since the 17th century. Half-timbered construction is used much less frequently in Germany today, but there are still construction companies in the 21st century that specialize in this traditional construction method.
In addition to the impressive building in Esslingen, there are many other half-timbered houses in Baden-Württemberg that are worth seeing. These include the town halls in Großbottwar and Markgröningen, the Palmsche Pharmacy in Schorndorf and the Schwörerhaus in Immenstaad on Lake Constance. Even The weirdest hotel in the world is located in LändleHow HEIDELBERG24 reported – built in the same traditional style.
