Punbrugge

Punbrugge
use	Pedestrians (originally Drautalstrasse )
Crossing of	Villgratenbach
place	Panzendorf
construction	covered wooden bridge
overall length	66 m
completion	1781
	location

46.749802 12.436666Coordinates: 46 ° 44 ′ 59 ″ N , 12 ° 26 ′ 12 ″ E

The Punbrugge is a covered wooden bridge over the Villgratenbach in Panzendorf in East Tyrol . It is a remarkable example of carpentry and is known as the most beautiful covered wooden bridge in Austria. The Punbrugge and Heinfels Castle that watch over it form an ensemble at the entrance to the East Tyrolean Hochpustertal .

history

The first simple overpasses over the Villgratenbach in Panzendorf certainly existed in the Middle Ages. A previous building was first mentioned in 1548 as "Pannbruggen" in connection with an eruption of the Villgratenbach. But only reliable sources are available through the predecessor of today's wooden bridge. An official description from 1725 reports about a 56 fathom (106 m) long and partly covered bridge in Panzendorf. According to tradition, today's "Punbrugge" was built in 1781 by Swabian carpenters. The pedestrian walkway on the south side was only added over 100 years later. A view from 1901 shows the bridge on both the north and south side with simple vertical cladding and rectangular light openings. The footbridge was probably built a short time later.

To relieve the Punbrugge from road traffic, a wider wooden bridge was built south of it in 1944, which was replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge in 1958 . The old wooden bridge has been a listed building since 1950 .

Surname

In the East Tyrolean dialect, the old wooden bridge is called “Punbrugge”, which can be explained by the word Bannbrücke. As a result, the bridge once belonged to the restricted area of Heinfels Castle .

As early as 1494, a ban bridge was mentioned in the Sillian parish deed: "acker ob der Panprucken"

How the “a” could become a “u” (Panbrucke - Punbrugge) was explained by Johann E. Troyer by an assonance with the word “Brugge”.

Construction

View over the bridge

French cross

The old wooden bridge in Panzendorf is not only characterized by its size and extraordinary carpentry, but above all because of the construction technology that was used here. It is one of the most important examples of historical suspension bridges in Tyrol. Johann E. Troyer states in a publication that the first evidence of this bridge construction method cannot be found in East Tyrol, but in the Alemannic Alpine region.

The supporting structure, which rests on two pillars and two abutments made of ashlar, consists of three mighty hanging structures with a total of 16 hanging columns. Despite its massive and angular beams, the Punbrugge does not seem cumbersome. The Villgratenbach, which used to take up more space, now flows between the two pillars.

The rhythmic beam arrangement of the hanging trusses corresponds to the double crossed ceiling struts made of squared timber. There are two wooden sculptures inside the bridge. The so-called "French Cross" from the 18th century commemorates the alleged prevention of an attack on the building by marching French troops in the course of the war in 1797. A statue of the bridge saint John of Nepomuk from around 1800 is attached to the south side .

Both the gable roof and the portals are plain and simple with vertical wooden boards, only the end boards on the east and west sides have an ornamental decoration.

The Brückenwirt is located directly at the bridge. It has been a resting place for locals and travelers since 1868.

Say

There are several legends about the Punbrugge in Panzendorf.

Swabian carpenters

The Punbrugge is said to have been built by Swabian carpenters passing through. According to Troyer, the Tyrolean topographer Johann Jakob Staffler wrote this story for the first time in his description of the country in 1847. Since then, the history of the Swabian carpenters has been retold and copied over and over again, so that today it seems like a historical fact.

In Trude Horn's 1980 publication on covered wooden bridges, there is even talk of “Swabian carpenters passing through the Banat”. The Swabians migrated to the Banat at this time, but historical sources only confirm the year of construction of the bridge.

French troops

Another story tells of French troops who, after a defeat in Bolzano , wandered over the Pustertal to Spittal , passed the Punbrugge and wanted to set fire behind them. However, this act of vandalism was thwarted by three Tyrolean snipers who pushed the French back down from the Pietersberg.

Another spectacular incident is said to have occurred at this time. An unbelieving Frenchman, out of sheer high spirits, struck his saber into the right shin of the statue of Christ until blood flowed out. The French soldier was seriously wounded at this point and died a short time later in Lienz. However, the injuries caused to Christ could no longer be "healed".

The castle captain

Other oral traditions spread the story of a strict captain of Heinfels Castle. According to legend, he built the footbridge for his sole use. However, this incident cannot have happened, as the footbridge was almost certainly not built until after 1902. Heinfels Castle was a kk military barracks from 1890 to 1919 and for this reason there was no longer a lord of the castle at that time.

Not a myth

The information on two signs that were affixed to both portals of the bridge until the 1950s was not a myth: “Driving fast and riding is prohibited on the bridge”.

literature

Franz Gerlich: Bridges in Tyrol , Innsbruck 1960
Martin Aschaber, Günter Guglberger, Karl Sporschill: Bridges in Tyrol . Studienverlag, Innsbruck 2010, ISBN 978-3-7065-4957-8 , p. 198-199 .
Baumann, Schmid-Pittl: covered wooden bridge, suspended truss bridge, Punbrugge. In: Tyrolean art register . Retrieved February 24, 2018 .

Chronicles, yearbooks and magazines

Hans Auer: Chronicle of the community of Heinfels , published by the community of Heinfels
Johanna Gritsch: Art in Austria , Notring Yearbook, Vienna 1963
R. Schober, J. Riedler: Chronicle of the community of Heinfels , published by the Tiroler Landesarchiv, issue 13, Innsbruck 1975
Johann E. Troyer: thurntaler 5 , publisher Alpenfest , Innsbruck 1981

Web links

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

Individual evidence

↑ Evelyn Pichler: 235 years of "Punbrugge" in Panzendorf - a sublime testimony to the unique art of bridge construction . Ed .: Festschrift for the 235th anniversary of the Punbrugge.
↑ Troyer Johann E.: In his remarks he describes a 15-year wooden bridge: thurntaler . Ed .: Alpenfest. No. 5 . Innsbruck 1981, p. 55 .
↑ Troyer John E .: thyme taler 1981 . Ed .: Alpenfest. Edition 5 edition. Innsbruck 1981, p. 55 .
↑ Troyer John E .: thyme taler . Ed .: Alpenfest. No. 5 . Innsbruck 1981, p. 55 .
↑ Brückenwirt. Retrieved February 24, 2018 .
↑ Trude Horn: Covered wooden bridges witnesses to old wooden architecture . Klagenfurt 1980, p. 235 .
↑ General Joubert moved on April 5, 1797 from Bozen over the Pustertal to the east. He reached Lienz on April 8th and arrived in Spittal on April 10th

[1] Evelyn Pichler: 235 years of "Punbrugge" in Panzendorf - a sublime testimony to the unique art of bridge construction . Ed .: Festschrift for the 235th anniversary of the Punbrugge.

[2] Troyer Johann E.: In his remarks he describes a 15-year wooden bridge: thurntaler . Ed .: Alpenfest. No. 5 . Innsbruck 1981, p. 55 .

[3] Troyer John E .: thyme taler 1981 . Ed .: Alpenfest. Edition 5 edition. Innsbruck 1981, p. 55 .

[4] Troyer John E .: thyme taler . Ed .: Alpenfest. No. 5 . Innsbruck 1981, p. 55 .

[5] Brückenwirt. Retrieved February 24, 2018 .

[6] Trude Horn: Covered wooden bridges witnesses to old wooden architecture . Klagenfurt 1980, p. 235 .

[7] General Joubert moved on April 5, 1797 from Bozen over the Pustertal to the east. He reached Lienz on April 8th and arrived in Spittal on April 10th