Promenade (Munster)

The promenade in Munster

The promenade in Münster is a car-free asphalt path created from the fortification ring around the city. It actually consists of three areas, the middle of which is reserved for asphalt bicycles, while the two narrower areas on the sides are walkways. In terms of regulatory law, the middle area of the promenade is not a cycle path, but a completely normal tramway, which, however, is closed to vehicles of all kinds. The promenade is one of the most important sights of the city , is approx. 4500 m long and surrounds the old town . A closed ring lined with lime trees separates the old town from the surrounding districts. There are ten streets leading out of the city center which cross the promenade where the city gates used to be.

history

The fortification of the city dates back to the early 13th century. In the course of time it was adapted to the development of war technology. After the Seven Years War , in which Münster was conquered several times by the troops of the respective war opponents, the demolition of the fortifications began. From 1770 a lime tree avenue was built according to plans by Johann Conrad Schlaun , which completely encloses the city center. For this purpose, from 1764, at the instigation of Franz von Fürstenberg, the inner fortification ring was removed and the inner moat filled in. The areas freed as a result were given back to the population as early as 1765. The outer ring of fortifications with the outer moat was redesigned into a four-row linden avenue. It was not until the end of the 19th century that most of the remaining water areas around the promenade were filled in.

As a result of the storm depression Kyrill in January 2007, many trees in the area of the palace square and in front of the palace were uprooted or so badly affected that all remaining trees in this area had to be felled and time-consuming and costly replanting became necessary. As part of the “Citizen's Trees” project, 210 winter linden trees , financed by donations from Münster, were planted on the promenade at Schlossplatz and at the castle. By mid-October 2013, 243 sponsorships for trees on the promenade were taken over. In addition, 13,000 ice begonias are regularly planted on the promenade meadow at the Kanonengraben in the form of the lettering “Münster confesses color”, with which the city of Münster is promoting an attractive cityscape.

The bronze sculpture entitled “Three Herons” by Arnold Schlick has been missing since May 21, 2013. It was on display since 1953 at the level of the Adolph Kolping Vocational College on the promenade. It is believed that the artwork fell victim to metal thieves .

Traffic volume

Since the promenade is closed to motorized traffic, it is of paramount importance for bicycle traffic in Münster . Up to 1200 cyclists per hour have already been counted here. At the only underpass on the promenade between Salzstrasse and Mauritzstrasse, 1750 cyclists per hour could be counted. In 2003, according to the city planning office, the volume of traffic at the underpass was only half as high as the peak values of 1750 cyclists per hour measured in 2013. The plans to widen the bicycle lane at this underpass due to the high volume of bicycle traffic to the disadvantage of the footpath for 120,000 euros were discarded in mid-March 2013 for cost reasons, as the construction work would have affected a district heating pipe, which, according to estimates by the city administration, would have doubled the costs . In order to monitor the not inconsiderable volume of traffic on the promenade, the city of Münster has set up a mountain bike patrol here .

Events

The promenade is also the venue for a large flea market that takes place every third Saturday between May and September.

Every year on the weekend at the beginning of summer there is a 24-hour race with everyday bikes. Traditionally, this event is held on the shortest Saturday night of the year. The race took place for the first time in 2007 and will continue to be held annually until 2017. 15 teams took part in the race in 2013.

In addition, concerts with more than 100 musicians have been held on the promenade every year since 2007 under the name of “green space entertainment”, which were brought to life by action artist Thomas Nufer inspired by the storm damage on the promenade caused by Hurricane Kyrill . In 2013, the seventh edition of the green space entertainment took place, in which 145 musicians took part. The green space maintenance is part of the campaign “Münster shows its colors”.

Attractions

The kennel on the promenade

The rubble locomotive

Some buildings such as the Buddenturm and the Zwinger have been preserved to this day, some are only visible as remains or ruins. A clockwise overview of the castle :

The gatehouses at Neutor by Wilhelm Ferdinand Lipper in the style of early classicism from 1778. One of them was renovated after 2000 and rededicated as the seat of the Münster City Home Association.

A construction locomotive from 1910, which was used as a rubble locomotive after the Second World War to bring the traces of the bombing raids to collecting areas.

A former bunker on Lazarettstrasse from the Second World War. A special feature is that it is camouflaged from the outside like a medieval or early modern fortification.

Two late medieval weirs , also known as water bears : One is on Kleimannstrasse and another on the old zoo grounds.

The Buddenturm from the end of the 12th century.

The Zwinger , a barracks for the episcopal troops in the 16th century . After the demolition of the fortifications, he became the prison since the early 20th century, he is under monument protection . In 1944 and 1945 it served the Gestapo as a place of execution. The Zwinger was integrated into the sculpture The Opposite Concert by Rebecca Horn .

The State Archives , built by Endell between 1885 and 1889, with a brick facade in the style of the Dutch Neo-Renaissance .

The gate guard house at the former Mauritztor in the style of classicism

The remains of the Engelenschanze , which were converted into a park in 1960 . There is the sculpture Three Rotating Squares by George Rickey from 1973.

The new works from the years 1531 to 1533, a bastion to secure the entry of the river Aa into the urban area.

Photo gallery

Buddenturm
Water bear on Kleimannstrasse
State Archives Münster
Mauritztorhaus
Engelenschanze with the sculpture three rotating squares
Memorial to the fallen soldiers of the Driesen (Westphalian) cuirassier regiment No. 4 .
The promenade in the area of the Westerholtschen Wiese
The remains of the "Neuwerk". The Aa flows in front of the hedge . In the background the tower of the Lamberti Church .
Cenotaph for the victims of the two world wars.
Autumn mood on the promenade

Musical homage

In the “Münsterlied” ( Dear City in the Lindenkranze , based on the melody of Heidelberg Du Jugendbrunnen ), the Münster promenade has been set up a musical and literary monument.

Another popular declaration of love for the Münster promenade has existed since 2003. In the competition “A song for Münster”, “Die 3 Nikoläuse”, a cult band from Münster, won the audience award with the composition “Promenade Mixture” penned by Frank Starzinski. Since then the song has enjoyed increasing popularity, especially with the student audience.

literature

Bernd Fischer: Münster and the Münsterland . 5th edition. DuMont Buchverlag, Cologne 1989, ISBN 3-7701-1278-4 , pp. 82-87
Bernd Haunfelder , Ute Olliges and Winfried Daut (Red.): The promenade in Münster. From the fortress ring to the green belt. Pictures from three centuries . With a contribution by Hartmut Tauchnitz and photos by Andreas Lechtape . Aschendorff, Münster 1994, 156 pages, ISBN 3-402-05107-9

Individual evidence

↑ Dirk Anger: Right of way on the promenade: misconception among cyclists . wn.de. December 30, 2019. Accessed February 11, 2020.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe: Promenade, Münster in LWL-GeodatenKultur, accessed on March 13, 2014
↑ Veronika Horn, Wolfgang A. Müller: Uni-GIG - Experience Münster from Aasee to Zoo: Promenade. In: GIG-online.de , WS 2013, No. 44, p. 7ff
↑ Five years after "Kyrill" many wounds have healed: 210 "Citizen trees" were planted on the promenade. In: Westfälische Nachrichten . January 17, 2012, accessed September 27, 2019 .
↑ Promenade tree for the grandson: tree sponsorship. In: Münster am Sonntag , Volume 20, No. 41, p. 5, October 13, 2013
↑ 13,000 ice begonias give the promenade meadow color. In: Westfälische Nachrichten , May 16, 2013
↑ ^a ^b Sculpture by Arnold Schlick “Three Herons” stolen. In: Westfälische Nachrichten. May 23, 2013, accessed September 27, 2019 .
↑ Martin Kalitschke: More space for cyclists: the cycle path is to be widened at the Mauritzstrasse underpass. In: Westfälische Nachrichten. January 19, 2012, accessed September 27, 2019 .
↑ ^a ^b Martin Kalitschke: Promenade renovation stopped - Too expensive: the underpass on Mauritzstrasse remains as it is. In: Westfälische Nachrichten , March 14, 2013
↑ Martin Schwickert: Leezen pimpen - Let there be light ... In: Ultimo October 14-27, 2013, No. 22/13, p. 4
↑ The flea market season begins on the promenade: Registration possible from Monday. In: Westfälische Nachrichten. April 20, 2013, accessed September 27, 2019 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c 24 hours around the promenade: the seventh round of the cyclist event is on Saturday. In: Westfälische Nachrichten. June 19, 2013, accessed September 27, 2019 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c Uwe Wahlbrink: Promenade concerts started: On May 25 and June 8, Grüner Ring will experience a total of 145 soloists, ensembles and choirs. In: Westfälische Nachrichten , May 17, 2013
↑ Jennifer von Glahn: Prelude to green space entertainment: Music and dancing for the plants. In: Westfälische Nachrichten. May 26, 2013, accessed September 27, 2019 .
^ Marco Krings: Rubble locomotive in Münster. Retrieved September 27, 2019 .