Imaging Germany 023: Shaft Cross in Freudenbrug (NP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

023: Shaft Cross

When you walk or cycle around in Rhineland, you will meet several stone artifacts along the road. Many of them are crosses; these wayside crosses are called Shaft Crosses (schaftkreuze in German). They have a specific type of cross, the Latin or High Cross. Most of these cross monuments consist of the cross or crucifix itself. They are mostly made of sandstone, some of them are made of wood or metal. The cross is located above a shaft or column that is fixed to a foundation or base. Most of these shaft crosses can be found wayside, or near churches or cemeteries. The shaft cross in the photograph was found wayside, when walking around Freudenburg. It has a crucifix that you might associate it with a via sacra.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

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Imaging Germany 022: Burgruine Freudenberg, Freudenburg (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

022: Castle ruin Freudenberg

Freudenburg is a small village – about 1500 inhabitants – at 32 km south of Trier. In the 14th century, a Luxemburg count decided to construct a castle at the foot of the Eiderberg mountain: Burg Freudenberg (‘Freyding” at the time of the construction). The castle underwent reforms in the 16th century, when an abbey acquired Freudenberg. In 1646, in a battle between the abbey and the electoral prince of Trier, the castle was destroyed completely. It never became rebuilt. At present, there is still a trench of the Gothic castle, as well as the castle gate, and the remains of a three-story quarry stone building, and of a keep. The beam holes in the walls provide some idea how the castle would have been before its destruction.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 021: Helmed Lion on Reichsburg, Cochem (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

021: Helmed lion

The Reichsburg in Cochem is one of the principal touristic locations in the picturesque city of Cochem. From the historic center of Cochem, a steep 10-15 minute walk leads to the entrance of the castle. Inside the castle – over a thousand years old! – a guided tour leads you through various rooms with their original furniture and decorations. It is possible to climb to the top of the castle, from where you may enjoy a splendid view of the city of Cochem, the Mosel River, and the vineyards abundantly present in the mountainous region. At one of the cornes on the top, you will meet a strange statue, as shown in the photograph. My first impression was, that it should be a duck, but many are more convinced that it should be a frog with lion claws. However, it is not a frog, but a helmed lion that holds the coat of arms.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 020: Boy Hiding Behind Mosaic Wall in Cochem (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

020: Boy behind Stammbaum

When you are looking for tourist information in Cochem, it is almost impossible not to see a mosaic wall near the information office. This mosaic wall, made by the artist Carlfritz Nicolay in 1982, depicts the history of the city of Cochem, and is therefore called Stammbaum (‘family tree’). The mosaic, composed of ceramic and natural stone, tells the story – with the shield of Cochem in its center – of the Roman era , the Holy Roman Empire, the Reichsburg,  the German Empire, and the German Republic. When I took this photograph, a boy was hiding himself behind the wall. Why and for who he was hiding, remains a big question.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 017: Carriage Wall Painting in Boppard (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

017: Carriage wall painting

Boppard is located in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2002. This valley, also known as the Rhine Gorge, 65 km section of the Rhine River between Koblenz and Bingen. This section gained much fame with the Lorelei legend, in which a siren named Lorelei seduced shipmen with her singing, while sitting on a treacherous rock. As a result, many of the shipmen lost their attention to navigation and had their ships wrecked against the rock. For centuries, Boppard was an important city along the track that follows the Rhine River. Carriages must have arrived and departed frequently. Close to a local hostel, at Schinderhannes Platz, this wall painting depicts a carriage pulled by two horses,

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 016: Playing Giant Outdoor Chess in Boppard (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

016: Playing giant outdoor chess

Boppard is a small town in the Rhine Gorge, in the German state of Rhine-Palatinate. Archaeologic findings  have unearthed traces of early civilizations that date back some 13,000 years. The Romans that their settlement, at the border with the Germanic tribes. Until 1309 Boppard was a free imperial city,  but then became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The well-conserved historic center has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2002. Tourism and wine production are the main economic activities. The picture shows a different activity. Older people that participate in an unusual outdoor chess game with giant pieces. The chess board is located at the margin of the Rhine River.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 015: Poppelsdorf Palace Water Reflection, BONN (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

015: Poppelsdorf Palace

One of the most beautiful constructions in Germany’s former capital is without doubt the baroque-style Poppelsdorfer Schloss (Poppelsdorf Castle).  Located at walking distance from the railway station, the pale yellow-plastered castle is hard to miss. It is unknown when the original castle was built, but in 1341, the castle was acquired by an archbishop, and became a regional seat. In 1583, the castle was destroyed in a regional war (Cologne War), which occurred within the context of Protestant Reformation in Germany. Only in 1715, rebuilding of  the castle was started, and finished twenty years later. About a century later, in 1818, the castle became part of the newly founded Bonn University, which moved the natural science collections to there, and transformed the garden in a botanical garden. The castle was heavily damaged during WWII in 1944, but was rebuilt in 1959. The castle still hosts important natural science collections, and several university departments. The photograph shows  the reflection of the building in the pond that is part of the botanical garden.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 014: Bonn Minster, BONN (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

014: Bonn Minster

The Bonn Minster (or: Bonn Münster) is one of the oldest churches in Germany. The city of Bonn was founded by the Romans in the first century: it started as a fortress, Castra Bonnensia, Around 235 AD, two Christian Roman soldiers, Cassius and Florentius, refused the emperor’s orders to kill fellow Christians and to worship a Roman God. They were martyred, together with a large number of legionaries. Both Cassius and Florentinus were beheaded on what is believed the present location of the Minster. In the 4th century, a shrine was built over their graves. through the centuries, the construction was extended to a small church that was demolished in 1050. A new church was constructed, between the 11th and 13th centuries, with five towers: one central circular tower, and  quare flanking towers on the west, and slender turrets in the east. The church, which suffered significant damage in WWII, became a papal minor basilica in 1956.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 012: Beethoven Square, BONN (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

012: Beethoven Square

Bonn is Beethoven, Beethoven is Bonn. Many sites in Germany’s former capital honour the world famous composer. You can visit his house of birth, you can find various statues throughout the city. One of the best known is the statue that is located in front of the Old Post building. The statue – designed by Ernst Julius Hähnel  and sculpted by Jacob Daniel Burgschmiet  -was inaugurated in 1845 to commemorate the fact that Beethoven was born 75 years before. The Old Post (in function between 1877 and 1908) was built between 1751 and 1753, and called Fürstenberg Palais.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 011: Basilica of St Martin, BINGEN AM RHEIN (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

011: Basilica of St Martin

Bingen is a small town in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where the Nahe River flows into the Rhine River. This confluence was an ideal location where first Gauls settled (Binge), followed by the Romans (Bingum). Here started the Roman road to the city of Trier. Bingen has suffered much from many wars and fires. However, some principal monuments have been preserved, like Burg Klopp (Castle), MäuseTurm (Mouse Tower, from where a legend tells about a cruel archbishop eaten by mice), and the Basilica of St Martin. There is proof that the Romans had their temple for Mercurius. On the same location, a crypt was built in the 8th century. In 1006, the church was mentioned for the first time in documents. Enlargement took place in the 15th century, and large-scale restoration was performed in the 19th century. The basilica became heavily damaged during WWII, and restored in 1958.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017

Imaging Germany 010: Skyline of BERNKASTEL-KUES (RP)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

010: Skyline

One last picture of the beautiful city of Bernkastel. The city is one of the top locations in the Moselle Valley. It is located in the so-called Middle Moselle Valley, between the city of Trier and Zell, where you can meet a sharp loop of the Moselle River. From Zell to the city of Koblenz, , where the Moselle River meets the Rhine River, this region is called Lower Moselle Valley.  Tourists can spend many hours in the pittoresque center of Bernkastel, where they can wonder many typical half-timber houses. The picture shows a skyline of Bernkastel, with the Early Gothic Michaelkirche (St Michael’s Church). Left from the church is the former Textile House ‘Haus Astor’, now hosting tourists. In 1512, Emperor Maximillian made a stop there, ate very well, and awarded them accordingly.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1991-2001, 2017