Old Zeughaus Mainz

The old armory , also known under the house name Zum Sautanz , was the central arms depot of the city of Mainz in the 17th and 18th centuries , until its function was replaced by the new armory . Today the Renaissance building is used by the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate and the state parliament .

Construction and history

The armory was built from 1604 to 1605 under the elector-archbishops Johann Adam von Bicken (1601–1604) and Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg (1604–1626) on the site of the electoral pig farming, from which the building name “ Zum Sautanz” is derived. As a three-wing structure, the armory encloses an open inner courtyard facing east towards the originally existing city wall on the Rhine side. The middle wing is withdrawn compared to the side wings. In front of the lower central wing, the large spiral staircase in front of the inner courtyard stands out prominently, the tower of which is crowned with a French dome . The two side wings end on their front side facing the city with magnificent volute gables .

Mobile heavy weapons such as cannons were stored on the ground floor, accessible via ramps. The upper floor rested on a mighty beam ceiling and was also intended as storage, but for lighter weapons and ammunition. The building is made of rubble stone built-masonry, the window jambs and the corners are in Haustein from Main Sandstone executed.

From 1738, Johann Maximilian von Welsch built the New Armory on the open courtyard side in baroque forms. The function as an arsenal was transferred to the new building; the old armory was used as an electoral coin from 1770 .

Location

The old armory was built within the city walls in the northeast of the city. It was near the electoral "government center", consisting of the court chancellery, the collegiate church of St. Gangolph and the Martinsburg , where construction of the electoral palace began at the same time as the arsenal was built.

Todays use

The building was badly damaged in the air raid on Mainz on February 27, 1945 and burned down. After the reconstruction in 1951-52, the building was used by Südwestfunk Mainz, which broadcast regional television and radio programs from there. Today the building is used by the state chancellery and the offices of the state parliament.

Web links

Commons : Altes Zeughaus Mainz - Collection of images, videos and audio files

50.004444444444 8.2719444444444Coordinates: 50 ° 0 ′ 16 ″ N , 8 ° 16 ′ 19 ″ E