Walderdorffer Hof w Bensheim

Walderdorffer Hof is a timber-frame building in Bensheim's old town with exposed wooden beams creating a distinctive pattern across its facade. The ground floor operates as a restaurant today, while the upper sections serve as a meeting space for a local heritage association.

The building was constructed in 1395 and initially belonged to the Guttes family before passing to the von Walderdorff family in 1580. This shift in ownership reflects how the structure changed hands across centuries of Bensheim's development.

The building shows the craft tradition of timber-frame construction as it developed in Bensheim over centuries. Walking through and around it, you can see how local artisans built homes and how families lived in such structures.

The building sits on Obergasse in Bensheim's town center and is easily reached on foot. You can view it from outside and visit the restaurant on the lower level to experience the interior of this historic structure.

Scientific study of the wooden beams revealed that the timber was cut during the winter of 1394 to 1395. This analysis confirmed the building truly originates from the late 1300s, supporting what had been long suspected.