Photos: Gemeinde St. Johann
- There are two baking houses in St. Johann-Bleichstetten.
- The upper baking house (photo on the right) was built in 1920.
- It has a wood-fired oven and is heated up with bundles of brushwood.
- Approx. 30 bundles are needed to fire the oven.
- Every baking group has to bring their own bundles.
- Baking takes place every sixth week; there are 6 baking groups – each group consists of two families.
- Baking day and the baking sequence are coordinated with the baking lady via telephone.
- Mostly bread and salt cake are baked.
- The lower baking house (photo on the left) was originally built in 1838/1839 together with the washhouse.
- After the demolition of the old church and in order to get space for the town hall, the baking house and washhouse were built at their new place in 1953.
- Since 1977, the baking house has kept its original function but the washhouse was rearranged into a regional parlour.
- The lower baking house has a wood-fired oven. It is heated up with bundles of brushwood and logs of wood.
- 10 baking groups bake individually every third week, every eighth week ore quarterly.
- To schedule the dates, there is a calendar at the baking house’s door.
- In the baking house, there are two benches and one table. The toilet is shared with the regional parlour.
- Wet and floury breads are baked. Nearly 35 kg of bread fit into the oven at the same time.
- In the baking house, there is also a dough machine. It is used for occasional events with pupils, children or firms.
- Apart from bread, salt cake, onion tarts, scallion tarts, quiches, sugar cakes, pizzas, pretzel rolls and brioches are baked. In the beginning of the year, some bake the speciality “Mutschele”.
- Up to 2014, ever other year (years without “Open Baking House Day”), the village fair took place around the baking house; in 2016 at the sports ground outside and without the baking house, the place for 2018 has not been determined yet.
- Every other year on a Saturday (next time 2019) the parish organizes the “Open baking house” day where all baking houses in St Johann are open and in use.
- There are 8 baking houses in St Johann: Gächingen, Lonsingen, Ohnastetten, Upfingen, Würtingen, Ziegelhütte Würtingen and two in Bleichstetten.