1350Construction of the timber-framed house at Markt 2

The building at Markt 2 in Alsfeld is the oldest house in the city. The left part of this half-timbered structure, which directly adjoins the stone “Weinhaus,” dates back to 1350. The right half was built in 1403, while the rear section was added as the most recent part in 1465 and does not have a cellar.

The building is constructed using post-and-beam (ständerbauweise) construction, where long, load-bearing wooden posts run through all floors. The ground floor was originally designed as a hall, possibly as a warehouse or business space, while the upper floors were used as living quarters.

The facade facing the town hall extends further into the street from one floor to the next. This was done not only to gain additional space but also to save on taxes. Property tax was based on the size of the plot of land and not on the floor area of the upper stories. These were therefore exempt from tax liability.

The existence of two older vaulted cellars indicates that a double house must have stood on this site previously, presumably during the city’s founding period. (JP)