Pelzerhäuser, Renaissance buildings in Emden, Germany
Pelzerhäuser are two connected merchant houses on Pelzerstraße featuring Flemish-Dutch design with stepped gables and decorative stone ornaments from the Renaissance period. The ensemble shows typical construction methods of wealthy traders from the 16th century, including their distinctive facade elements and interior layouts.
The first house was built around 1570, with the neighboring structure completed in 1585 during the period when Emden was becoming a major trading center. This era shaped the city as wealthy merchants demonstrated their prosperity through ambitious construction projects.
The buildings display regional artworks and collections that document how merchant families lived during the Hanseatic period. They show how wealthy traders used and furnished their homes during that era.
The buildings are easily reached on foot from the city center and are recognizable by their distinctive stepped gables. The surrounding streets provide good orientation as the area is flat and straightforward to navigate.
The buildings sit on a street named after the Pelzer craftsmen who once worked with animal pelts in this quarter. This trade was once vital to Emden's economy, and the street name preserves the memory of this forgotten craft tradition.
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