German Half-Timbered House Road - Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse

German 

Half-Timbered 

House Road 

A complete overview 

of the regional routes 

From the River Elbe to 

the Weser Hills 

From the Meadows of 

the Elbe Valley to the 

Harz Mountains 

From the Harz 

Mountains to the 

Thuringian Forest 

From the Weser Hills 

via North Hesse to the 

Vogelsberg Mountains and 

the Spessart Uplands 

From the Lahn Valley 

to the Rheingau Region 

From the River Rhine 

to the River Main and 

the Odenwald Forest 

From the River 

Neckar to the 

Black Forest and 

Lake Constance

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 Wuerttemberg) 

and is divided into seven regional routes. 

In the meantime, nearly 100 timber frame towns have joined up under the 

slogan ”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 entertainment 

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 offi ce in Fulda 

(address overleaf). 

Enjoy reading this brochure and planning your trip. 

Head Offi ce 

German Half-Timbered House Road

Timber Frame in Germany 

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 features 

of 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 fi lled with clay or 

bricks: a highly ecological, environmentally sustainable and aesthetic 

building 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 fl oor-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, fl ared 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 incomparable 

town- or villagescapes well worth being protected as historical 

monuments. 

Professor Manfred Gerner

German Half-Timbered House Road – Timber Frame Styles 

Lower German Timber Frame 

is 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 in 

towns, the basic ground plan was changed early whereby the 

typical ”Utluchten“ developed. 

Central German Timber Frame 

is 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 Frame 

In 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 fl oor-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 Cross 

As 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 

fl ared form, St. Andrew’s cross is also called ”fi redog“. 

Fanned Rosette 

Especially in Lower Germany, the fanned rosette appears as 

an ornamental motif in the fi rst 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 Heads 

In 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 fi gures sticking 

out their tongues to grudgers, were fi xed on the front of 

half-timbered houses.

From the River Elbe to the Weser Hills 

Bad Essen 

Stade 

Nienburg 

Stadthagen 

The variety of landscapes 

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 

Alfeld 

North Sea Coast via 

Einbeck 

the North German 

Lowlands with the 

Northeim 

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 refl ected 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. 

447 km 

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 recommendable 

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.

537 km 

From the Meadows of the Elbe Valley to the Harz Mountains 

Bitte lesen! 

Um Streckenänderungen schnell 

durchführen zu können, nutzt bitte die 

Stammdatei, in der die Deutschlandkarte 

hinterlegt ist. 

Ihr findet diese auf dem Server unter: 

-> Server 

-> Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse 

-> • Ubersichtskarte_2008 

-> Ubersichtskarte Stammdatei 

mit Kartenvorlage 

Generiert die Dateilkarten bitte aus 

dieser Datei hier, um den exakten Stand 

beizubehalten. 

Danke, 

Andreas 

Celle 

Wolfenbuettel 

Bockenem 

Bleckede 

Luechow 

Hitzacker 

Dannenberg 

Koenigslutter 

Salzwedel 

Hornburg 

Osterwieck 

Halberstadt 

Wernigerode 

From the River Elbe 

up to the rivulet Hahle 

you can fi nd 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. 

Osterode 

The action of dukes, 

princes and kings has 

Bitte 

Duderstadt 

lesen! 

produced 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 of 

craftsmanship and as unrepeatable contributions to the development of 

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

Um Streckenänderungen schnel 

durchführen zu können, nutzt b 

Stammdatei, in der die Deutsch 


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 

Ihr cafés findet and the various shopping diese possibilities auf while strolling dem around the Server 

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

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

-> Server 

Discover the charm and the individual attractions of the timber frame 

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

-> Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse

From the Harz Mountains to the Thuringian Forest 

Bitte lesen! 





204 km 


-> Server 

The people living between the 





Stolberg Harz Mountains and 




Thuringian Forest have for 

Danke, 

Andreas 

Worbis Bleicherode 

generations been used to 

Wanfried 

Muehlhausen 

Treffurt 

adopting cultural infl uences 

from all over and giving them 

their own character. The 

architectural styles from 

Vacha 

Gothic to Historicism, 

Schmalkalden 

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, 

refl ects 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 

fi nally, 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.

591 km 

From the Weser Hills via North Hesse to the Vogelsberg 

Mountains Bitte lesen! and the Spessart Uplands 






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Butzbach 

Bad Arolsen Wolfhagen 




Korbach 

Danke, 

Andreas 

Fritzlar 

Homberg (Efze) 

Schwalmstadt 

Alsfeld 

Gruenberg 

Lich 

Buedingen 

Hann. 

Muenden 

Hessisch 

Lichtenau 

Eschwege 

Spangenberg 

Melsungen 

Rotenburg 

a. d. Fulda 

Schlitz 

Lauterbach 

Gelnhausen 

Bad Hersfeld 

Steinau a. d. Strasse 

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 Dukes 

to 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 infl uences from Lower 

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

On this regional stretch the German Half-Timbered House Road leads 

through 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.

From the Lahn Valley to the Rheingau Region 

Bitte lesen! 






-> Server 








Danke, 

Andreas 

Herborn 

Dillenburg 

Braunfels 

Hadamar 

Limburg 

Bad Camberg 

Idstein 

Eltville 

Wetzlar 

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 old 

town 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 River Rhine to the River Main and the 

Bitte Odenwald lesen! Forest 






-> Server 








Danke, Dreieich 

Andreas 

Trebur 

Hanau-Steinheim 

Dieburg 

Reichelsheim 

Seligenstadt 

Babenhausen 

Gross-Umstadt 

Erbach 

Wertheim 

Miltenberg 

Wallduern 

203 km 

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 

magnifi cent forests and romantic valleys. 

Numerous variants in ornamentation, opulently adorned bays and 

elaborate window constructions characterize the timber frame between 

the rivers Rhine and Main, the Spessart Uplands and the Odenwald Forest. 

It refl ects 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 fl ying visit or on holiday, 

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

town centres and the charmingly located farms.


-> Ubersichtskarte Stammdate 


560 km 

From the River Neckar to the Black Forest and 

Bitte lesen! 

Lake Constance 

Um Streckenänderungen schnell Mosbach 





-> Server 

-> Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse Generiert -> • Ubersichtskarte_2008 Eppingen die Dateilkarten dann 


Calw 

Danke, Altensteig 

Dornstetten 

Andreas 

Haslach 


Bietigheim- 

Besigheim 


dieser Datei hier, um den exakten Stand Bissingen Marbach 


Vaihingen a.d. 

Backnang 

Danke, 

Andreas 

Enz 

Markgroeningen 

Waiblingen 

Schorndorf 

Esslingen 

Kirchheim unter Teck 

Schiltach 

Herrenberg 

Pfullendorf 

Bad Urach 

Riedlingen 

Meersburg 

Blaubeuren 

Biberach 

a.d. Riss 

The star-shaped regional 

route in Southern 

Germany leads from 

Mosbach 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, picturesque 

mountains and 

wide valleys. 

24 timber frame towns with a medieval fl air 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. Magnifi cent 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 timber 

frame 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.

Information leafl ets of the German Half-Timbered 

House Road 

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 specifi c 

information, e.g. in our 

• Motorhome pitch list

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

contact our offi ce 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 Offi ce 

German Half-Timbered House Road 

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: info@deutsche-fachwerkstrasse.de

Imprint: 

Publisher: 

German Half-Timbered House Road 

Head Offi ce: 

Deutsche Fachwerkstraße 

Propstei Johannesberg 

36041 Fulda 

Germany 

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

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

info@deutsche-fachwerkstrasse.de 

www.deutsche-fachwerkstrasse.de 

All rights reserved. 

Layout: 

Greb&Friends, Fulda 

October 2009

German Half-Timbered House Road - Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse

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