Detours | Pile dwellings in Unteruhldingen
A Journey Back in Time at Lake Constance
Lake Constance isn’t only the perfect place for an idyllic holiday – it also gives you the chance to immerse yourself in a bygone era: the pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen take us back in time to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
By Sarah Klein
How did people live over 3,000 years ago? Which tools did they use, how did they build their houses, what was their daily life like and in what kind of community did they live? Answers to these questions can be found on the shores of Lake Constance – at the historic pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen.
The reconstructed village of houses on stilts isn’t just picturesque to behold, it’s also an important archaeological open-air museum that takes visitors on a fascinating trip back in time to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The settlement was built in 1922, since which time it has been continuously redeveloped and adapted to incorporate the latest scientific knowledge.
Hands-on history
The authentic reconstruction draws on decades of research and original finds from the bottom of the lake. The houses, which stand proudly above the water on stilts, are made of timber, reed and clay, giving visitors a sense of the challenges facing prehistoric communities, and of their accomplishments.
Interactive exhibitions showcase original tools, pieces of jewellery and everyday objects. Children can have a go at milling flour themselves or lighting a fire using prehistoric techniques. Guided tours, hands-on activities and special exhibitions turn the museum into a dynamic educational space – for families, school groups or history buffs alike.
The pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen are part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” that encompasses more than 100 archaeological sites in six countries. The World Heritage listing highlights how important these sites are for our understanding of early European civilisation. Visiting Unteruhldingen is more than just a journey into the past – it also helps create a shared cultural memory of Europe.
Showing what life was once like: a reconstructed pile dwelling in around 1919/1920. Professor R. R. Schmidt, director of the Tübingen Institute of Prehistory, can be seen on the right, while the man in the middle wearing a hat is the excavator and later museum director Dr H. Reinerth. | Photo (detail): © Pfahlbauten
The pile dwellings have been continuously redeveloped and adapted since the early 1920s – this is how they look today. | Photo (detail): © Pfahlbauten/F. Müller
Is this how an early villager might have looked? | Photo (detail): © Pfahlbauten/G. Schöbel
The museum gives vivid and practical demonstrations of everyday life in the prehistoric period: children here are learning how people would have lit a fire back then. | Photo (detail): © Pfahlbauten
Detours
What does Görliwood mean, why can you find a piece of the Caribbean in Bavaria and where can you dance in front of bucket wheel diggers? In our series we take you on a trip each month to somewhere in Germany that you may not yet know but should definitely be introduced to. We reveal places that are not to be found on the usual tourist trails. Are you ready for a bit of a detour?