Befreiungshalle

Coordinates: 48°55′06″N 11°51′38″E / 48.91833°N 11.86056°E / 48.91833; 11.86056
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Befreiungshalle
Befreiungshalle Kelheim
Befreiungshalle is located in Bavaria
Befreiungshalle
Befreiungshalle
Location in Germany
Befreiungshalle is located in Germany
Befreiungshalle
Befreiungshalle
Befreiungshalle (Germany)
Map
General information
Architectural styleNeoclassical
Town or cityKelheim
CountryGermany
Coordinates48°55′06″N 11°51′38″E / 48.91833°N 11.86056°E / 48.91833; 11.86056
ClientKing Ludwig I of Bavaria
OwnerBavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes
Design and construction
Architect(s)Friedrich von Gärtner,
Leo von Klenze
DesignationsBaudenkmal (listed monument)

The Befreiungshalle ("Hall of Liberation", German:

Befreiungskriege
of 1813–1815.

History

Befreiungshalle at night
Ludwig Schwanthaler
Floor inscription

King

Wars of Liberation
that lasted from 1813 to 1815.

The construction was started in 1842 by

Battle of Nations (Völkerschlacht) near Leipzig
.

The following dictum by King Ludwig I, embedded into the marble floor, commemorates the occasion of the construction of the Befreiungshalle:

This inscription of dedication is to be found above the ornamented door frame of the entrance portal:

For the celebration of the first stone laying on 19 October Ludwig I had a poem written dedicated to the soldiers who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Joseph Hartmann Stutz had set it to music:[1]

German English

1. Heil Euch, wack’re Männer, muth’ge Krieger,
Die errungen Ihr den Heldenkranz,
Heil Euch, treue Teutsche, tapf’re Sieger!
Ewig währet Eurer Thaten Glanz.

1. Hail to you, valiant men, brave warriors
Who have won a hero's wreath,
Hail to you, faithful Germans, courageous victors!
The brightness of your deeds will last forever.

2. Dumpf und finster hatt es uns umgeben,
Und kein Teutschland gab es damals mehr;
Ihr doch schwangt auf’s Neue es zum Leben,
Siegreich ragt es wieder hoch und hehr!

2. We were surrounded by dull and dark forces,
And Germany did no longer exist;
But you reanimated her,
And now she stands again victoriously and sublime!

3. Dass die Zwietracht schmählich uns gekettet,
Dies vergessen werde nie und nie,
Dass die Eintracht uns allein gerettet,
Die der Heimath Ruhm und Sieg verlieh.

3. We will never forget
That discord ignominiously chained us
And that unity alone saved us,
Unity which granted glory and victory to our country.

4. Durch der Zeiten weite Ferne schlinge
Immer sich der Eintracht heilig Band,
In des Teutschen Seele sie durchdringe,
Unbesiegt bleibt dann das Vaterland.

4. May forever wind
The holy band of concord,
May it enter the German's soul,
Then the fatherland will remain unvanquished.

Today

The hall, including the upper exterior gallery, is open to the public.[2]

Architecture

The powerful-looking rotunda made of Kelheim limestone rests on a three-tier base, which is designed as an octadecagon. The outer facade is divided by 18 pillars with 18 colossal statues by Johann Halbig as allegories of the German tribes that took part in the battles. These are: "Franconian, Bohemian, Tyrolean, Bavarian, Austrian, Prussian, Hanoverian, Moravian, Saxony, Silesian, Brandenburger, Pomeranian, Mecklenburg, Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringian, Rhinelander, Swabia" (circulating in this order with an arbitrary start) .

The round hall has a height of 45 metres (148 ft) and a diameter of 29 metres (95 ft). Its interior is illuminated by a dome. The inner gallery can be reached via 82 steps. Another 40 steps lead to the outer viewing terrace, from which one has a wide view of the

Altmühl valleys
. Since the 2008 season, the cupola hall has also been accessible by elevator for wheelchair users and the disabled.

The interior of the hall is designed as a large domed hall, which is lit by an

white marble from Tyrol. Since this was very expensive, the remaining Victorias were made of white Carrara marble. They were designed by Ludwig Schwanthaler, who also made two Victories himself, namely the two end figures at the entrance. The other stills were created with the sculptors Arnold Hermann Lossow and Max von Widnmann. In the niches between two Victories there are 17 gilded bronze shields, which, like the 7-metre (23 ft) high entrance gate of the hall, were cast from captured artillery pieces. The large number of goddesses of victory, who shake hands in a gesture of unity, refers to the member states of the German Confederation, which actually fluctuated between 35 and 39. The monument thus also contained a commitment to the political status quo, in this case to the princely state federalism in Germany
, which, in contrast to the establishment of an all-German national state demanded by the bourgeoisie, meant that the individual German states were largely independent.

The obvious preference for the number 18 is due to the fact that both the Battle of Leipzig and the Battle of Waterloo took place on an 18th day of the month. It can also be found in the number of 54 columns and 54 pillars (3 × 18), in the twice 36 columns in the upper gallery (2 × 18) and in the inscriptions for 18 generals and recaptured fortresses.

See also

References

  1. ^ The song on the website of the Bavarian administration for public castles, gardens and lakes.
  2. ^ Aniol, Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen, Thomas. "Bavarian Palace Department - Palaces - Hall of Liberation at Kelheim". Retrieved 19 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links