Brückengasse 9, Timber-framed house in the old town of Limburg an der Lahn, Germany

Brückengasse 9, also known as the House of the Seven Vices, is a medieval timber-framed building with ornate decorative elements on its facade. The structure retains its original wooden framework and intricate carved details from several centuries past.

The ground floor is rubble masonry; after the massive house partly collapsed, a timber frame was added in 1567. The frame was fully renewed in 1679, confirmed by dendrochronology. In 1735 the house passed to a master builder; from 1843 it held a paint and colonial goods shop, and in the early 20th century a shoe shop. The timbering was exposed in 1913.

The carved figures on the Brückengasse side are read as the seven biblical vices: pride, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath and sloth. From 1843 the ground floor held a paint and colonial goods shop, and in the early 20th century a shoe shop. A Swedish couple bought the house in 2001, restored it and opened a small art museum there.

The house sits in the old town near the river and is surrounded by other medieval buildings and landmarks. It is easily reached on foot, especially when exploring the historic district from the Cathedral or main market square.

The carved details on the facade are connected to specific moral themes that were taught in the Middle Ages. Visitors can observe these features, which demonstrate how architecture served as a teaching tool at that time.