Schenkbarsches Haus, Cultural heritage monument in Biedenkopf, Germany.
The Schenkbarsches Haus is a five-story half-timbered structure with a slate-covered gabled roof located near the church square in Biedenkopf. The ground floor contains the Black and White Kitchens and an Icon Museum displaying art collections spanning multiple centuries.
The structure was built before 1254 over a medieval vault with a Romanesque sandstone arch, and received three additional upper floors in 1610 by Schultheiß Schenkbar. This 17th-century expansion transformed the medieval foundation into the larger residence visible today.
The building houses a collection of antique icons from Russia and Greece alongside non-European textiles, offering visitors a glimpse into artistic traditions from distant regions. These holdings reflect the cosmopolitan interests of past inhabitants and demonstrate how private homes served as repositories for important cultural treasures.
Visits to the Black and White Kitchens and Icon Museum require advance reservations made by phone or email. Plan for approximately thirty minutes for your visit and arrange your reservation before arriving.
This structure is the oldest house in Biedenkopf and has survived multiple city fires throughout its long history. Its resilience through such disasters demonstrates the durability of medieval craftsmanship and construction methods.
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