511 – Farmhouse 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum
Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz
Opening hours
10 April to 2 November 2025
10 am to 5 pm daily
