Curious about farmhouses? The Biedermannhaus stands before you. This is no ordinary house. It is a journey back in time. This building shows the Liechtensteinische Wohnkultur around 1900.
The Biedermannhaus was built in 1518. It is a “Blockbau” or blockhouse. This construction was typical for farmhouses back then. The Biedermann family lived here from 1814 to 1964. That is how the Biedermannhaus got its name.
Look at the details of the Biedermannhaus. Notice the Schwellenschloss at the corners. This was common in this region. The house has a cellar made of Lehmxdmörtel and Rüfesteinen. The main structure is two stories high. Originally, the kitchen was open all the way to the roof. You can still see the blackened beams.
Take note of the flat roof. It was built this way because of the materials. They used local Brettschindeln with stones to weigh them down.
Inside the Biedermannhaus, the ground floor is divided. There is a kitchen, Stube and Nebenstube. The Stube and Nebenstube are living areas. Ladders once led to the upper chambers. In the large chamber, there is a window from 1518 without glass. Other windows have Butzenscheiben from 1793/94. The northeast facade features Sprossenfenster from 1844.
The entrance is under the Laube, an added porch. It leads directly into the kitchen. The Laube on the northeast side covers both floors.
The Biedermannhaus has moved several times. In 1687, it was moved as part of the Fahrhabe, personal property. It got a new roof then. In 1793/94, it was rebuilt in “Undera Platta”. A steeper roof replaced the flat one. It was covered with tiles. A buffet was added to the Stube.
In 1832, the Laube was renovated. A sandstone oven was installed in 1837. The Stuben and chambers got wainscoting. In 1844, the northwest facade was shingled. A Rocaille was added to the gable. The Laubens were renovated in 1892.
In 1923, a hallway was separated from the kitchen. A wooden staircase led to the upper floor and cellar. The stove, tiled stove and fireplace were renewed. In 1940, the ground floor was lowered.
Though uninhabited since 1964, a toilet was added in 1984. The steps to the house were concreted.
To save it from demolition, the Biedermannhaus was rebuilt in 1992/93. It was moved to its current location. The Sprossenfenster from 1844 were replaced. The old Butzenscheibenfenster were put back.
Since 1994, the Biedermannhaus has been a museum. It is run by the Liechtenstein National Museum. It shows rural living around 1900.
Inside, find a Herrgottswinkel in the Stube. This is a corner with religious symbols. The Nebenstube is set up as a bedroom. It is for parents and a small child. The chamber has a Butzenfenster.
The Biedermannhaus is more than a building. It is a symbol of Liechtenstein’s history. It shows how people lived and worked here long ago. As you leave, remember the stories held within these walls. The Biedermannhaus stands as a testament to the past.