Klause (Lochau)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Storming of Bregenz by the Swedes in 1646/47; Theatrum Europaeum (1629–1650), Matthäus Merian;
on the left in the picture between the steep face and the lakeshore the "Bregenzer Klause"
The Klausberg and the Klause with the Klausturm and the jumps in a historical representation from 1647
Lochau and the eastern shore of Lake Constance with the site of the former Bäumle port. In the background the Klause and the Klausberg

The Klause (also called Bregenz Klause ) is a geographical bottleneck in the municipality of Lochau , Vorarlberg , Austria on the Klausberg . This bottleneck was also militarily significant for centuries and, along with other barriers , blocked access to the Bregenz Fortress and the state of Vorarlberg if necessary for opposing troops who came from the Swabian , Bavarian and Württemberg regions.

Surname

The name Klause is derived from the geographical bottleneck located here and from the Latin claudere "close". The Klause, which is located in the municipality of Lochau and was previously part of the Hofrieden court , is also known as the Klause bei Bregenz or Bregenz Klause due to its proximity to the city and the former fortress of Bregenz .

history

During the Appenzell Wars, the hermitage was conquered by them on December 5, 1407.

In the course of the Thirty Years' War (1618 to 1648) in 1630, when there was an imminent threat of war from advancing Swedes also near Lochau and Bregenz, the hermitage and other defensive points in the direction of Allgäu / Swabia were repaired again. A new defensive position was built at the foot of the hermitage (called "Unoth").

During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701 to 1714) the fortifications on the Klause had to be restored because French troops marched towards Bregenz (1702 and 1704). Contrary to the negligent organization and defense preparations by the political and military leaders in Vorarlberg in 1647 and the lack of defense readiness of some officers when the ski jumps at Klausberg were overpowered by the Swedish troops on January 4, 1647, the equipment was now much better and the French were able to defend themselves become. In the course of the Austrian War of Succession , the fortifications on the Klause had to be quickly repaired and occupied, as French troops were advancing again.

On 9/10 August 1796 a skirmish took place at the port at Bäumle in the course of the French coalition wars. The jumps in the area of ​​the Klause and on the Pfänder etc. were quickly repaired, but did not help much afterwards, as the own ( imperial ) troops were withdrawn several times to the Arlberg .

In the course of the withdrawal of the soldiers of Nazi Germany , the hermitage in Lochau became the scene of acts of war again for a short time. A 8.8 cm anti-aircraft gun from the Wehrmacht was standing by the Lange Stein . The Kaufmann (Hausreute) houses, the Homann brush factory in Kugelbeer, the Klause inn near Unoth and the Rohner stocking factory on the Tannenbach were destroyed in the course of these senseless battles.

Fortifications

The most important permanent fortification at the Klause was the Klausturm . In addition, there were ramparts and log houses that stretched over the Klausberg to Lake Constance and which were repaired or rebuilt in the event of acute danger. Further fortifications were built in front of and behind the hermitage (e.g. the New Schanze during the Thirty Years' War).

It is located e.g. B. a few hundred meters before the Klausberg and the fortifications the parcel Kugelbeer (correct: ball weir ), which still indicates this function today. Older works such as a tower and the foundations of a log house were also found near the Am Stein parcel .

The New Schanze in front of the Klausberg was built in 1642 as the third entrenchment and defense line at the Klausberg . It was built on the area of ​​the Klausmühle , shortly before the Klausmühlebach (seen in the direction of Bregenz ) and was intended to protect Bregenz and the rest of Vorarlberg from the advancing Swedish troops under the general Carl Gustaf Wrangel as part of the hostilities of the Thirty Years War (see also: Naval War on Lake Constance 1632–1648 ).

This new ski jump in Lochau was largely destroyed on March 29, 1647, together with the two others behind it on Klausberg and the one on Pfänder. The day before, the Swedish troops had blown up the fortifications on Gebhardsberg (Pfannenberg Castle).

Web links

Commons : Klause  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Erwin Bennat: Municipal Chronicle Lochau , published by the municipality of Lochau 1986, p. 33
  2. ↑ This area of Unoth is now known as the Klause in the narrower sense and the Klause restaurant stands here partly on the foundation walls of the earlier fortifications.
  3. ↑ a b Erwin Bennat: commune Chronic Lochau , Edited by the municipality Lochau 1986, p 54, 90th
  4. ↑ Erwin Bennat: Municipal Chronicle Lochau , published by the municipality of Lochau 1986, p 69., 72
  5. ↑ Erwin Bennat: commune Chronic Lochau , Edited by the municipality Lochau 1986, p 78 et seq.
  6. ↑ Erwin Bennat: Municipal Chronicle Lochau , published by the municipality of Lochau 1986, pp 118 et seq.
  7. ↑ Listed building, Object ID: 1537, address. Bregenzer Strasse 55, Lochau.
  8. ↑ Erwin Bennat: Municipal Chronicle Lochau , published by the municipality of Lochau 1986, p 66th

Coordinates: 47 ° 31 '0 "  N , 9 ° 45' 16.6"  E