City fortifications of Günzburg
The medieval city fortifications in Günzburg , a large district town in the Swabian district of Günzburg ( Bavaria ), result from the name given to the place, which was first handed down in 1065 in a document from King Henry IV as "gunceburch". The preserved remains of the city fortifications are a protected architectural monument .
history
In 1328 the term “stat” was used for the first time in connection with Günzburg. In 1382 the fortified upper town is called "infra muros". In 1397 the market held in the lower town was moved to the walled upper town. There are no sources for the early days of city fortifications . The expansion probably took place during the 15th century. In 1577 Archduke Ferdinand II sent his master builder Alberto Lucchese to Günzburg to make improvements to the town fortifications. The upper parts of the three largest towers probably came from him. During the city fire in 1735, six towers of the city fortifications burned down and parts of the wall collapsed. The reconstruction took place quickly, individual parts of the city fortifications were not given up until the end of the 18th century. In 1789 the Günztor was demolished and other towers were only partially preserved. According to the recommendation of the Bavarian government from 1809, redundant buildings should be demolished. As a result, the pied gate on Ichenhauser Strasse and the Kapuzinertor were destroyed. In the middle of the 19th century the Upper Bachturm and in 1868 the Upper Gate were demolished. From 1900, parts of the moat were filled in and built over in a few places.
description
The city fortification with an area of 300 × 250 meters encloses an area of seven hectares . The wide market street, the main axis of the city, is located between the Upper Gate and the Lower Gate. The cow gate was only built in 1615 and the Capuchin Gate was built shortly afterwards. The city wall was provided with thirteen towers of different types and sizes. They protruded somewhat from the line of the wall, and larger towers stood at the four corners of the city wall. The wall and towers were almost entirely made of brick. The wall is eight to nine meters high. Their thickness at the foot is about 0.70 to 0.90 m. Inside the wall was reinforced by wall pillars , which were connected to one another by arches . The wooden battlement with a tiled pent roof led over the arches . At the top of the wall there was usually a simple series of key notches . In Frauen- und Pfluggasse, the battlements led through the houses built against the wall. The castle, which basically dates from the middle of the 15th century, was of particular importance for the fortification of the city. In front of the wall there was a 15 to 20 meter wide trench, which in the 15th century was partially leased to citizens for use as a garden. The lower city had four gates.
Components of the city fortifications
- Lower Gate Tower (Marktplatz 43)
- Ursulaturm, also Vogelsturm (Postgasse 14)
- Kuhturm (To the Kuhturm 3)
- Frauenturm (departed)
- Owl Tower (Frauenplatz 8)
- Devil storm (departed)
- Upper Gate Tower (exited)
- Powder Tower (Pfluggasse 9)
- Upper Bach Tower (removed)
- Capuchin Gate (departed)
- Heraldsturm (departed)
- Falkner or Scheckiges Tor (removed)
- St. Jakobstor or Günztor (removed)
- Ulmer Tor (exited)
- Quarreling gate (departed)
Lower gate
Ursula Tower
Cow tower
City wall Frauengäßchen 8
See also
literature
- Klaus Kraft: The art monuments of Swabia. District of Günzburg 1. City of Günzburg . In: The art monuments of Bavaria. Administrative region of Swabia. Vol. IX. District of Günzburg 1 - City of Günzburg . R. Oldenbourg Verlag, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-486-55211-2 , pp. 191-212.
