Stone cross group in Wolframs-Eschenbach

Stone crosses in Wolframs-Eschenbach

The stone cross group in Wolframs-Eschenbach is a collection of eight historical stone crosses in the Middle Franconian town of Wolframs-Eschenbach in the district of Ansbach in Bavaria .

location

The stone cross nest is located at the southwest exit of Wolframs-Eschenbach in Merkendorfer Straße (Staatsstraße St2220), junction Waizendorfer Straße.

description

View of the location

The group consists of a total of seven stone crosses and a base of a former stone cross. It is the largest collection of such crosses in Bavaria. Originally there were only five stone crosses and these are said to date from 1680. However, other sources report that the crosses, like most of their species, are believed to date from the late Middle Ages around 1500. These five stone crosses have been designated as architectural monuments by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (D-5-71-229-48). During road construction work in 1957, the five crosses were moved north from their original location. Two more stone crosses were moved here from their original locations on Reuterer-Weg and Gerbersdorfer Weg. In 1958 the crosses had to be restored after a motorcycle accident. In 1994 the crosses were moved further north as part of new road construction work. The city administration also had the crosses restored. In addition, the base of a cross was set up as an "eighth" stone cross, although there are only seven real stone crosses. The current state of preservation (December 2018) of the stone crosses is very different.

These are so-called atonement crosses .

legend

The real reason for the list has been lost. According to a legend , a gypsy killed his wife and three children at this point in 1500 and then committed suicide. The reason for the act is said to have been the refusal of accommodation by the city.

Cross 1

The cross on the left (looking from the street) is the largest and most massive of the group. The sandstone cross has the shape of a Latin cross and measures approximately 123 cm × 106 cm × 33 cm. The foot is broken and repaired. The broken foot was extended downwards during the re-installation in order to make the proportions appear more symmetrical. The cross is moderately weathered and the arms and head of the cross are rounded.

Cross 2

The next cross is the second largest in the group. The sandstone cross has the shape of a Latin cross and measures approximately 84 cm × 83 cm × 25 cm. The foot is broken and repaired. The broken foot was partially reconstructed during the new installation. The cross is set up at a slight angle and is moderately weathered. The cross arms are mutilated and, like the head, strongly rounded.

Cross 3

The third cross is set back a little. The sandstone cross has the suggested shape of a trefoil cross and measures around 70 cm × 61 cm × 23 cm. It is only preserved in fragments and has been supplemented. The foot and individual parts have been put back together based on the presumably original shape. The cross is badly damaged. The head and arms are rounded.

Cross 4

The next cross is similar to cross 3. The sandstone cross has the suggested shape of a trefoil cross and measures approximately 71 cm × 59 cm × 22 cm. The foot was added downwards. Arms and head are damaged and rounded.

Cross 5

The fifth and originally last cross is more heavily damaged. The sandstone cross has the suggested shape of a trefoil cross and measures around 68 cm × 47 cm × 21 cm. On the side facing the street, the foot shows a few chipped areas and has been added towards the bottom. It is possible that the cross between the head and arms originally had sector supports. These are only vaguely recognizable due to weathering and abrasion. The head is flat and the arms are greatly shortened and rounded.

Cross 6

The sixth cross was added to the group in 1957. The original shape of the sandstone cross is no longer recognizable and severely mutilated. Due to its unusual thickness, it could originally have been massive and had sector supports between arms and head. Today it measures only about 71 cm × 72 cm × 36 cm. Arms and head are heavily polished.

Cross 7

The next cross was also added to the group in 1957. The original shape of the sandstone cross is also no longer recognizable and severely mutilated. It could have had sector supports between arms and head. Today it measures only about 54 cm × 55 cm × 24 cm. The shape of the cross can only be guessed at.

Cross 8 (base)

The last cross is just a base of a former stone cross. The base was added to the group in 1994 and measures around 54 cm × 80 cm × 17 cm. The base is well preserved and shows traces of processing, so-called cutting marks .