Twenty loaves at once. Can you imagine? That’s what this Backofen Babelsberg could bake. Right here before us stands a testament to simpler times. A time of community. A time when the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air weekly.
This Backofen Babelsberg isn’t just an old oven. It’s a cornerstone of Neuendorfer Anger’s history. Its story begins long ago with the German settlement of the area. The Landbuch of Charles IV first mentions Neuendorf in 1375. People lived around an oval village square. Their homes surrounded a central space. Beyond the homes lay their fields and farm buildings.
Several ovens once existed. They were deemed dangerous. They often caused devastating fires. Authorities intervened. They decided on a single central baking location. This Backofen Babelsberg on plot number three was chosen. It met all regulations. It was more than just an oven. It served as a central gathering point for the community. People baked bread. They cooked food. They dried fruit. They all came together once a week until the 1940s.
The oven’s structure eventually collapsed. Water and roots caused damage. But its story didn’t end there. In 2008 restoration began. Using original materials and techniques they rebuilt the Backofen Babelsberg. The master oven builder Andreas Fleischer meticulously recreated it. He used traditional materials. He used old techniques. Old hand-painted tiles from the Anger cover its roof. The brickwork is protected by limewash. The oven door is made of an old steel plate.
The surrounding area has been restored. Fruit trees and elderberry bushes now grow. They were there originally to prevent sparks from spreading. Since 2012 the Backofen Babelsberg is again used. Baker Figahs bakes bread and cakes here. He follows traditional recipes. The aroma of freshly baked bread returns to Neuendorfer Anger. The Backofen Babelsberg isn’t just a building. It’s a living connection to the past. It’s a reminder of how people worked together. It showcases their resilience and their dedication to tradition. It is a reminder of the importance of community and the enduring power of a simple loaf of bread.