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