40 Wonderful Photos Show Rural Life in Europe in the 1950s

The Fifties have a particular place in our collective imagination: the decade of elegance and sophistication, of the economic boom, of “the Golden Age” of radio, of the birth of rock and roll, of the beginnings of television, and the dawn of commercial air travel.

However, these iconic characteristics of the Fifties represent only one side of the decade, inspired by the bright and optimistic eagerness for change that spread all over Europe after the Second World War ended.

The Cold War, the fear of a nuclear conflict, the authoritarian regimes in Spain and Portugal, a divided Germany, and a controlling conservative society were also part of European citizens’ everyday life.

These wonderful photos were found by Past of a Stranger that show rural life in Europe such as Austria, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland in the 1950s.

Austria. Fulpmes / Pinnistal, Stubai (Hintergrund Elfer und Habicht)

Austria. Inntal bei Innsbruck / Patscherkofel

Austria. Lech am Arlberg

Austria. Lech am Arlberg

Austria. Niederthai, Ötztal

Austria. Obergurgl / Ötztal

Austria. Obergurgl / Ötztal

Austria. Obergurgl / Ötztal

Austria. Obergurgl / Ötztal

Austria. Obergurgl / Ötztal

Austria. Sankt Sigmund im Sellrain

Austria. Schloss Wiesberg

Austria. Silvretta-Stausee

Children playing in the sand

Couple on the fence

Couple riding on a motorbike

Germany. Lauser Weiher (Feldkirchen-Westerham)

Germany. Lauser Weiher (Feldkirchen-Westerham)

Germany. Starnberger See

Harvesting

Italy. Chiavenna

Italy. Haidersee

Italy. Reschensee

Italy. Reschensee

Italy. Reschensee

Man fluting

Man relaxing

Mother and kids

Somewhere in Europe

Somewhere in Europe

Somewhere in Europe

Somewhere in Europe

Somewhere in Europe

Somewhere in Europe

Somewhere in Europe

Swimming pool

Switzerland. Axenstrasse

Switzerland. Genf

Switzerland. Gotthard Pass

Switzerland. Luzern