It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city, having been built as early as 1526. The house was originally used to store goods and merchandise from ships that docked at Konstanz’s harbour, hence its name, which translates to “House at the High Harbor”.
The house has an interesting history – it was once owned by a wealthy merchant named Hans Schmid, who lived there until his death in 1602. During this time, he made numerous modifications to the building, such as adding two additional wings and expanding into what we now know today as Haus zum Hohen Hafen. After Schmid’s death, ownership of the building passed through several hands before eventually being purchased by a local businessman in 1867 who had plans to demolish it and build something new on its site. Fortunately for us today, those plans were never realized and instead Haus zum Hohen Hafen remains standing – albeit with some modern alterations – serving as an important reminder of Konstanz’s long maritime history.
Today, visitors can explore Haus zum Hohen Hafen for themselves; it houses a museum dedicated to local maritime history, which includes exhibits about shipbuilding techniques from centuries past alongside artefacts recovered from sunken vessels around Lake Constance (Bodensee). Additionally, there are interactive displays, so visitors can learn more about life on board these old boats, including how sailors cooked their meals or navigated using stars alone.
Overall, Haus zum Hohen Hafen offers visitors an excellent opportunity to experience first-hand some fascinating aspects of Konstanz’s rich maritime heritage without ever leaving dry land.
