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Monument protection lost: Oberammergauer's farm secretly rebuilt!
The Kirchenbauer-Hof in Oberammergau loses its monument protection after illegal conversion. A construction freeze was lifted.
Monument protection lost: Oberammergauer's farm secretly rebuilt!
A historic farm in Oberammergau recently lost its listed status, and that has not been entirely without consequences. The “Kirchenbauer-Hof”, which dates back to the 18th century and is located on Schnitzlergasse, was illegally converted. The responsible authorities were left out as to how Mercury reported.
The construction stop in 2021 became necessary after it became known that work requiring building permits was carried out without the necessary permits. Afterwards, representatives of the monument office, the municipality and the district office checked the situation on site. The tragedy in question: Due to the extensive structural changes, the farm's listed status was no longer recognizable, which also ruled out the gable facade with its baroque paintings from the 1930s.
Dealing with violations
Normally, such serious violations of monument protection are punishable by harsh punishment. In Germany, there are high fines for illegal conversions, which vary enormously depending on the federal state. In Bavaria, up to 500,000 euros can be due Catalog of fines explained. But in this particular case, the district office decided against a fine because they did not consider it necessary, which is difficult for many experts to understand.
Anyone who wonders how such a situation can come about will find a suitable context in the history of the “uhrmacherhäusel” in Munich. There, a historic half-timbered house was demolished in just 20 minutes without permission - a loss to Munich's city history that was not accepted passively. Depending on the federal state, penalties for such violations can also include dismantling or reconstruction and should therefore be taken seriously, as the monument protection platform explains.
What's next?
The owners of the Kirchenbauer-Hof currently have no public statement on the incidents. The fact is, however, that the construction freeze was lifted after the building no longer had protected status. The situation highlights a central problem in dealing with listed objects: the protection of cultural and historical values often requires perseverance and a good hand in reconciling modern demands and the preservation of history.
In the future, property owners should pay closer attention to which legal regulations apply to the renovation or conversion of their buildings. Not only can you avoid expensive fines, but you can also safeguard your cultural heritage for future generations. Because it looks like there is really something to be said for wanting to treat listed buildings with respect.