For many, making a gingerbread house is a Christmas tradition. Trying to stick together gingerbread pieces with icing and decorating the house with candy can turn into an elaborate event. Some builders have gone one step further and designed homes that look as if they belong to Hansel and Gretel.
Park Güell, Barcelona
This park is quite interesting and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site along with some of the other unique works of Antoni Gaudi. Originally it was to be 60 houses built for only the wealthy in Barcelona in the early 1900s. Once a war started in 1914 the park was never completed. In 1922 the unfinished construction became property of Barcelona and was turned into a municipal park that was opened to the public. Some of the main attractions are the two gatehouses. Each of them looks like realistic gingerbread houses. They have an interesting mushroom shape that draws viewers in.
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
A lot of things can be found in Martha’s Vineyard including many gingerbread looking houses. In fact, there are over 300 houses that can be found in an area called Oak Bluffs. Each of them more fairytale like than the other. Many of them are decked out in intricate woodwork and vibrant colors. One of the best parts about this little village of houses is that many of them are available for rent. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a real life gingerbread house then this is surely the place to go.
Icing House, Fuerteventura
Located in Spain, this house draws a lot of visitors each year. It has bumpy looking walls and a white roof that looks as if it’s made out of icing, hence the name. What’s interesting about this house is that it’s actually occupied and the owners are rather fascinated as to what makes their house a spectacle.
If you are looking for a larger than life gingerbread house made out of the real deal- icing and gingerbread, you can see one at the following places:
Xi’an Mall In China- This 10 foot high gingerbread house is large enough for a small family to live inside. It’s made out of one ton of icing and 20,000 gingerbread cookies. Children can go inside of the house to get a better view.
Skytop Lodge In The Poconos- This gingerbread house is a yearly favorite among locals and travelers and takes months to construct. It’s made out of 3,000 pounds of gingerbread, 350 pounds of icing and 150 pounds of candy. This year’s house is the largest one they have made to date.
