Denzelt (Echternach)

The tent on the Echternach market square

The Denzelt ( Luxembourgish : Dënzelt ) is a historic building on the market square of Echternach in Luxembourg and the city's former Dingstuhl . The name comes from the Old High German word thing , which means "assembly" or " coming together".

The building

The exact year of construction of the building is not known, possibly 1236. In 1374 Abbot Wilhelm von Kerpen bought the building, which was named Dinstoil ("Dingstuhl") or Dënzelt ("Dingzelt"). The citizen Johann Buschin had the task of setting up the administration of the city of Echternach. In 1444, the Denzelt was destroyed by a fire during the tenure of Abbot Winand von Gluwel (1437–1465) and rebuilt. The inner vault of the building survived the fire. Under the abbot Robert von Monreal († 1539) the Denzelt was rebuilt in the late Gothic / Renaissance style in 1520. In 1512, Emperor Maximilian I paid a visit to the building, monastery and town. After another fire in 1705, elements in the Baroque style were attached to the building under Abbot Benedikt Zender (1694–1717). In 1895/96 further changes were made to the facade according to plans by the architect Charles Arendt . In addition to the neo-Gothic elements, statues were attached to the facade, works by the Aachen sculptor Lambert Piedboeuf from 1896. These represent the four cardinal virtues of prudentia, bravery (Fortitudo), temperance (Temperantia) and justice (Justitia), the Mother of God , King Solomon and Abbot Robert von Monreal (1506–1539) are the only historical figures in the front on the right.

During the Second World War , the building was partially destroyed, but it was restored again. Most recently, work was carried out on the roof structure in 1993/94. The Dënzelt has been a national monument since June 4, 1974 .

function

The building was the seat of the former lay jury, which was held in the open hall. It also housed a prison and a torture chamber. Nowadays the city's boardroom is in the Dënzelt. This is where the meetings of the municipal council are held. The registry office, offices, the city archive and an exhibition room are also located in the building. Outside the building behind the front arcades is a bronze plate with the seal of Countess Ermesinde II and a Latin text that commemorates the granting of city rights by her in 1236. The seal of Countess Ermesinde, flanked by the dates 1236 and 1936, has the seal border: SIGILLVM HERMESSENDIS COMITISSE DE LVXEMBVRG (O) ET DE RVPE (Seal of Ermesindes, Countess of Luxembourg and of La Roche-en-Ardenne (Latin Rupes Arduennae) ).

Beneath it is set in Latin bronze uncials:

ERMESINDI EPTERNACVM POST SAECVLA SEPTEM
PIA REGENTE CAROLA MAGNA DVCE
HANC TABVLAM COMITI POSVIT QVAM LIBERTATVM
CHARTAM DEDISSE GRATA GAVDET CIVITAS

in German:

After seven centuries, Echternach had this plaque installed for Countess Ermesinde
under the pious ruling Grand Duchess Charlotte
, so
that she (Countess Ermesinde) gave her the letter of freedom,
the grateful city (citizenship) rejoices.

literature

• Jean-Venceslas-Charles Arendt: The so-called 'Dingstuhl' on the market square in Echternach . In: Ons Hémecht . 1895, p. 68-73 .
• Christina Mayer: Topography of the building culture of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg . Ed .: Ministère de la culture, Service des sites et monuments nationaux. 1: Canton Echternach, 2010, ISBN 978-2-495-15120-7 , p. 268 .

Web links

Commons : Dënzelt (Echternach)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Echternach . TRIFOLION Echternach - Center Culturel, Touristique et de Congrès. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 6, 2012. 
2. ↑ Luxemburger Illustrierte No 10, p. 147
3. ↑ Luxemburger Illustrierte No. 10, p. 148
4. ↑ SIGHTS - A cultural route through the old town of Echternach . Echternach tourist. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 4, 2012. 
5. ↑ Chronique de la Ville d'Echternach ( French ) Administration Communale de Echternach. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 4, 2012. 

Coordinates: 49 ° 48 ′ 46.5 ″  N , 6 ° 25 ′ 13.6 ″  E