The enclosed farmstead was a characteristic building type of the Göcsej region’s scattered settlements, known as szegek. On these farmsteads, the residential and agricultural buildings were arranged in a U-shape, with the entrance closed by a large gate.
This layout developed in response to the traditional peasant farming system, which relied on grazing but also incorporated stable-based livestock keeping. Manure and used bedding removed from the stables were piled in the enclosed courtyard before being spread on the nearby fields, where they were essential for improving the region’s relatively poor-quality soils.
Enclosed Farmstead from Csöde
The house relocated to the Village Museum from Alsócsöde was considered by local residents to be one of the oldest dwellings in the village. It was probably built during the first half of the 19th century and at one time also operated as a small roadside inn, known locally as a bögre csárda.
One interesting feature of these enclosed farmsteads is that they were not located within the village itself. Instead, they stood separately from one another, yet always within sight of neighbouring farmsteads, functioning almost like watch posts in what had once been a frontier fortress region. Typically, a single family was granted each of these isolated homesteads.
