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511Farmhouse from Tentlingen, Fribourg 17th Century / 1790

When the Tentlingen house was built, field cultivation was still prevalent in the region. Enormous amounts of grain were flailed on threshing floors.

Icon Museumsplan Nr. 511 Bauernhaus aus Tentlingen FR

Turning a house around

When the Tentlingen house was built, field cultivation was still prevalent in the region. Enormous amounts of grain were flailed on threshing floors. Later, in this region of the pre-alps, more emphasis was placed on animal husbandry.

Dwelling, threshing floor and stall originally formed a long main facade. As a result of changing economic conditions, the longitudinally oriented building with its lowly sloped roof (which still covers the barn) was transformed. The owner, Joseph Corpataux, had the dwelling part turned 90 degrees in 1790, crosswise to the barn and stall. This lent the building an entirely different appearance.

Familienspaziergang vor dem Bauernhaus aus Tentlingen FR (511) im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg.

New times, new styles

At that time various smallholders afforded themselves a baroque style when renovating. The dwelling tract became more spacious and the facade suggested wealth and good taste. Details like the gable arch contributed to the impression of the modern image then fashionable.

Das Bauernhaus aus Tentlingen FR (511) im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg.

Creep hole

After a hard day’s work in winter the occupants could crawl from the warming parlour stove directly into bed. The kitchen floor was covered with sandstone slabs. Meals could be passed through an opening in the wall from the smoke-filled kitchen into the pleasantly smoke-free parlour.

Schlafstätte mit Trittofen im Bauernhaus aus Tentlingen FR.

Burnout

Walls of wood or stone last for hundreds of years without major repairs as long as the roof is intact. In addition to the roof, the stove too must be replaced every few decades. When this house was rebuilt in 1790 a new stove was installed. 100 years later, many fires had burnt the stones through. The present sandstone stove dates from 1881 and lasted until 1981, when the house was taken apart for the Open-Air Museum.

Die Stube des Bauernhaus aus Tentlingen FR (511) im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg.

Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum

Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz

+41 33 952 10 30
info@ballenberg.ch

Opening hours

11 April to 27 October 2024
10 am to 5 pm daily

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