What life was like 400 years ago in Germany's Black Forest

Founded more than 50 years ago as an architecture museum, the Vogtsbauernhof collects old buildings that were native to the Black Forest and representative of the original architecture of the area. Some date back to the 17th century, the time of the peasant revolt, and most feature a thatched roof. Due to fire safety regulations and mold problems, they are no longer in use in southern Germany.

Though every village in the Black Forest had its own unique fashion, the standard uniform which is still often worn during celebrations today is the dirndl for women and black pants, a vest and hat for men. The pom pom hat is particular to the Black Forest region and is worn by women of a certain age. Red tells the world she is single, black means married.

Special shows take place on the museum grounds nearly every day, with an emphasis on recreating living history for guests. Here, a group of re-enactors known as the Heckerleute from Offenburg are putting on a display in commemoration of the battle of Kandern, a town nearby.

Fruit-flavored brandies are a local delicacy (think of the cherry liquor made famous in Black Forest Cake). In season, visitors to the open air museum can witness the distillation process done the old-fashioned way, over wood-fired stoves. Other activities that are frequently demonstrated are flour milling, bread baking and the sawing of logs - all using antique equipment that is centuries old.

All six of the houses at the Vogtsbauernhof give insight into the lives former residents led inside. The sitting room shown here looks luxurious compared to others on the property, including one in which the families lived side by side with the farm animals brought inside the barn on cold winter days.

Contingent on the weather, the museum is open for just seven months a year, with a weekend Christmas market the only exception to its winter closing. The season officially ends with a harvest and slaughter festival featuring older ways of cooking. It is usually celebrated around the beginning of October when German traditionally celebrates the harvest.