The Martinsklause

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The Martinsklause is a novel by Ludwig Ganghofer that connects the historically documented first settlement of Berchtesgaden by monks at the beginning of the 12th century with motifs from the Watzmann saga.

This also includes the quote from the novel character, based on the first provost Eberwin , which has been used for decades to stimulate tourism within the Berchtesgadener Land : "He who loves God, he lets fall into this country".

In 1951 the novel was filmed under the same title under the direction of Richard Häussler , based on the script by Olaf Hinz and Peter Ostermayr .

At the Hintersee in Ramsau near Berchtesgaden , Ganghofer's Die Martinsklause was played as an open-air performance under the title National Park Festival .

action

At the beginning of the twelfth century, the noble family of the Counts of Sulzbach fulfilled an old vow and transferred a region called Berchtesgaden as a foundation to the Augustinian canons . The order sends the young and energetic Father Eberwein with three monks to take possession of the area, which is considered to be wild and inhospitable, and to start building a monastery.

When Eberwein saw Berchtesgaden for the first time from the height of the Untersberg , he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape. A wide valley basin is dominated by a towering snow-capped mountain in the shape of an even pyramid, which the locals call King Eismann . At the foot of the mountain there are two lakes, the Schönsee and the Windacher See . “Lord, whom you love, you let him fall into this country!” He exclaims enthusiastically and remembers his amazing life from foundling and goatherd to religious and now to the future ruler of this country.

It quickly becomes apparent that the monks have a difficult task ahead of them. The country is only inhabited by a few hundred people who lead a hard and barren life and are even closer to the old pagan customs than to Christianity. It turns out that there has been a church in the Ramsau valley for a long time, but Eberwein's initial joy about it turns into a serious conflict of conscience: The priest there is married and therefore unworthy of his office, even if through no fault of his own - he had in the Seclusion did not learn anything about the ultimate enforcement of celibacy . The most dangerous opponent turns out to be Mr. Waze, who was once appointed by the counts as spisar , a brutal tyrant who regards the land as his property and does not want to be stolen from his “robes”. His solid house on a rock and the armed might of his seven sons and numerous servants seem insurmountable.

Gradually, with patience and friendliness, Eberwein succeeds in making the rural people inclined to the new rule. Naive belief in miracles and a few happy coincidences do almost more. Meanwhile, Waze tries to keep people away from the monks with threats and acts of violence. Eventually, the farmers gather around a secret thing on the ridge of the Dead Man to make a decision. Out of concern for their belongings and their families, a majority decides to stick to the old rule, even though they hate it. The monks and the few who are bold or desperate enough to continue to oppose Waze are in trouble. Earthquakes and other eerie signs of nature herald approaching disaster.

After Waze has found out that the powerful Archbishop of Salzburg does not intend to interfere in the dispute, nothing can hold him back. Soon blood flows on both sides, but when Waze and his men storm off for the decisive blow, they meet their fate on the slope of the Iceman. The earth did not shake without a cause. The huge mountain was riddled with cracks and is now collapsing in a gigantic landslide . What remains is a much lower, jagged ridge, which will later be called Watzmann . Among the rubble and disappears Windacher lake forever. Rock falls and tidal waves take almost a quarter of the population.

Eberwein was spared and immediately began to rebuild. He no longer wants to ponder the secret of his origins, which has almost been revealed and which seems to connect him to friend and foe in unexpected ways. With his superior knowledge and decisive action, he gives new hope to the survivors. The good times , which were previously only promised to them in old legends, can finally begin.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ official festival homepage ( Memento from June 15, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ Ludwig Ganghofer: The Martinsklause. Publisher von Th.Knaur Nachf., Berlin, 1929, page 10

Web links