Ballenhaus, Medieval warehouse at Marienplatz, Schongau, Germany
The Ballenhaus is a freestanding structure with stepped gables on its north and south sides, positioned between Marienplatz and Lindenplatz. The building displays typical medieval warehouse architecture designed to showcase and protect merchant goods.
Built in 1420 to store merchant goods, the structure underwent major reconstruction from 1493 to 1515 following a significant city fire. This rebuilding shaped its present form with the characteristic stepped gables.
The first floor holds a late Gothic council chamber with carved wooden details, showing how the city's officials gathered for administrative work. The craftsmanship and furnishings reflect the importance Schongau placed on its civic governance.
The ground floor now houses a restaurant, while the upper floor serves as an event space for various gatherings and celebrations. Visitors can explore the building's public areas and use it as a reference point between the two adjacent squares.
Foreign merchants paid storage fees for their cloth bales in this building, which generated substantial income for medieval Schongau. This commercial activity made it an economic hub that directly supported the city's prosperity.
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