Gehöfte

Gehöfte (plural Gehöfte) is a German term for a small rural farmstead, comprising a dwelling and a cluster of agricultural buildings surrounding a courtyard. Traditionally, Gehöfte were the basic units of rural landholding in German-speaking areas, used for subsistence farming or small-scale production. The term is most commonly encountered in historical texts and regional dialects, and is distinguished from larger farm complexes or manor estates.

The word Gehöft originates in the Germanic language tradition and is attested in Middle High German, referring to a settled homestead connected with agricultural activity.

A Gehöft typically includes a residential house and farm buildings—such as a barn, stable, granary, and sometimes a pigsty or oven—arranged around a courtyard or forecourt. Construction materials vary by region and period, ranging from timber-framed to brick or stone, with orientation designed for access to fields and water supply.

Regional role and history: Gehöfte were common across German-speaking rural areas, including parts of present-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, often forming the smallest independent farming units or constituting components of larger estates. In the 18th–20th centuries, modernization and agricultural reforms transformed many Gehöfte, leading to consolidation, expansion, or repurposing.

Contemporary usage: Today, Gehöfte mostly survive as architectural or cultural-historical artifacts. They may be preserved, converted into residences or guesthouses, or documented in regional archaeology and history. The term remains in regional dialects and in historical descriptions of countryside life.