Tripp, trapp, trull, Historical cottages in Kalmar, Sweden
Tripp, Trapp, and Trull are three traditional wooden cottages situated along Fiskaregatan, displaying different architectural forms: Tripp as a single-story structure while the other two rise to two stories. The buildings feature the straightforward construction typical of 17th-century craftsmen's homes, with practical layouts suited to residents who worked as tailors, shoemakers, and blacksmiths.
These cottages date to the 1600s and rank among the few structures that survived the major city fire that swept through Kalmar in 1765. Their endurance through this disaster demonstrates the durability of their construction and their significance as survivors of a transformative event in the city's past.
The cottages take their names from their varying heights, which made them easy to identify and remember in the local community. This naming convention reflects how residents used physical characteristics to distinguish buildings in their neighborhood.
These cottages stand on a street accessible on foot in the town center and can be viewed from the exterior; interior access is not available as they remain private residences. Plan to visit during daylight hours to see the architectural differences clearly, and take time to observe how the three structures vary in scale from where you stand on the street.
The cottages gained recognition far beyond their local area as subjects for postcards and commercial advertisements, turning their contrasting heights into a visual trademark. This unexpected popularity transformed three modest craftsmen's homes into recognizable symbols that travelers and merchants encountered in printed materials across Scandinavia.
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