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Bühlhof in Schönwald – Home of the cuckoo clock!

Schönwald and the cuckoo clock

 
 
 

The small village of Schönwald, located in the middle of the Black Forest region of Germany, can justly be called home to the famous cuckoo clock.  This is where the wooden timepiece originates, which is famous and popular all around the world.  The clock itself also represents the ingenuity and creativity of the people in our region.

 

The old Bühlhof 1930


 

History of Bühlhof

Our Bühlhof is one of the oldest so called “Heidenhöfe” in the Black Forest. Its varying history makes it an impressive contemporary witness from 1547 until today.  Further information about the historical background can be found  here.

History of restoration

As a skilled carpenter, Lukas Duffner Jr., owner of the present day Bühlhof, restored the building extensively.  Here you can get an impression considering the period in which it was constructed.

View of the building (southeast) before reconstruction in 1986.

View of the building (northwest) before the start of construction in 1986. The Roof is pressed down for about 80cm.

 
View of the building (northeast) before the start of construction in 1986 with dovecote.

Before the start of construction the whole building had to be secured by support beams 25 cm in diameter.

Complete reconstruction of the roof: The old substructure with century-old shingles has been conserved; above we built a new roof with a new superstructure.

Newly shingled roof with a special beam (14m x 28cm x 24 cm) for the statics (support?) of the whole building.

 

Outhouse as used in former times.
Natural materials like straw have been used for insulation.

Very rotten foundation beam; not all of them could be saved.

Rebuilding of the rotten plank walls on the northeast side.

Adding of a new corner-column to the old handmade wooden column.

Partially completed facade of the farmhouse parlor.

Interior restoration of the former cow shed with newly scrubbed wooden beams.

Saleroom today.

Bühlhof shortly before opening in 1989..