Bavarian & Upper Palatinate Forest

The hills of the Bavarian Forest and Upper Palatinate Forest define the eastern Upper Palatinate. Even in the past, you could find important roads and paths leading through the valleys of these low mountain ranges. They connected Bavaria with Bohemia and helped to make the forests and uplands accessible.

People settled along these routes, and built their houses on both sides of the roads. Typical linear street villages settled alongside these roads and paths. Farming took place behind the houses or on the outskirts of villages (1, 2). The fields often nestled up against the mountainside. Through ploughing, lynchets or agricultural terraces (3) were formed.

Farming was affected by the weather and environmental conditions, which were harsher in this region compared to in other areas of the Upper Palatinate. Yields from these fields were limited. Animal husbandry and forest use were therefore important sources of income. However, incomes were still low. That is the reason why farms and other properties were smaller here than in other regions. Even the Kolbeckhof (4) was considered a large farm. Smallholdings such as the Langerbauer (5) were common. There were many poor people who lived in Inhäusern (small, cramped housing) as subtenants. They struggled to make a living with erratic employment.

House construction was greatly influenced by the climate and the vast forests. Flat but stable roofs could support heavy snow loads. Solid wood walls kept heat inside the house in winter, and windows and doors were small to keep the cold from entering their living space.