wildeshausen

Wildeshausen- yeah! The city where I live since approx. 8 yrs. Well, I wanna tell you something historical about my hometown:

A Tour through my Wildeshausen

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We start our tour at the Burgberg in the park. Wildeshausens history pulls us in right away: Wildeshausen - Castle ( end of 12. century) built by the "Graf von Oldenburg - Wildeshausen") is the Burgberg; on which a castle once stood. It changeded its appeance frequently. The river Hunte once consisted of several branches. On led close to the Burgberg. Two draw - bridges over the moat, which was fed by the river secured the living and defense structures. In 1529 the city of M�nster occupied the castle. They imprisioned the mayor and the counsilmen in the tower. The castle deterorated in the 17. century more and more. 1789 the last evidence, the tower, was broken up. The hill through stands till this day. After word war I a monument for the local war - dead was erected there. After world war II additional names were added. From the Burgberg a lovely sight consists of the "Kurpark" with a fountain - terrace and a concert shell. The vista reaches to the marshes (= Welgemarsch) and "Katenb�ker Berg".

The "Kurpark" with fountain, concert-shell and "Kneippanlage"(=wading - pool) is like a special jewel in the Luftkurort (fresh air park) Wildeshausen. The view from the adjoining Burgberg is especially beautiful, it show the complete combined "ensemble" near the hunte river. The river completes the overall picture with many colorful canoes and rowing boats. During the summer months concerts take place every sunday morning at 11 AM. An imposing event is the tattoo on "Pfingst - Sonntag" at night, when the "Sch�tzengilde" from 1403 presents a spectecular firework to open the traditional "Gildefest".

We go to the St. Peter - Church (St. Peter-Kirche). It is worth it to take a look at the newly restored Building (inside). An ecumenical ceremony on Nov. 27th 1998 re-opened the St. Peter Church for divine services. From August 2nd 1997 until then the catholic church enjoyed the facilities of the Alexander Church by invitation. The church had to be closed because of structural problems. 16 month were needed for re-construction. It is worth it to take a short look at St. Peter`s history: From 1699 on the Alexander Church was used for evangelic - lutheran services. During this year Sweden became the ruling faction. The same catholics bought a house with several additional buildings and out of a barn " a church like building" was developed. During 1700 to 1803 Hannover ruled, catholics werde not allowed to built a church, only 1810, when Oldenburg took over Wildeshausen the catholics were allowed freedom to follow their religion. They built their church, which opened its doors on Nov. 24th 1811. The church had to be closed again due to structural mistakes, making it unsafe. In 1824 the current church was finally built, without a tower. The tower was erected in 1910. This short overview shows unmistakenly a long period of difficult co - existence between the religions - also here in Wildeshausen. As the ecumenical opening - ceremony of St. Peter proofs both communities in Wildeshausen have bridged their differences successfully. A promising sign of actual ecumenical unity and an encouragement to continue this successful relationship. "The times of division between the religious communities is, thank god, over now" (R. Gryczan/H.Holtmann).

In the "Westerstra�e" we notice a mighty sculpture, Waltbert. Our Troika = with Alexander and Widukind. The year 851 was in the history of Wildeshausen of great importance. Waltbert, a grandson of Widukind, brougt the relics of St. Alexander from Rome to Wildeshausen, to forther the christianity in the sparsely populated area. The skulpture shows Waltbert on his horse, in his hands the relic of St. Alexander. Nearly tail - like follows his name, the year 851 and the word "translatio". The "translatio Alexandri" once was described throughly by the monks of Fulda. The sculpture by the Bremen-artist Efeu is the outstanding work of art within the reorganization of our towns appearance.

Standing on the marketplace we must witness the Glockenspiel in the north gabel. Like everywhere in Wildeshausen it also points to the importance of the "Gild from 1403 ^. The front of the new townhouse - 1990 - displays a Glockenspiel with moving figures. It exemplifies periods in the life of the citizens of Wildeshausen, beginning with Archbishop Hildebold who gave the status of town to Wildeshausen in 1270 and also donated the place for the original townhouse. Of course, symbols of the all important "Sch�tzengilde" are evident: officer, drummer and gards - a shepherd with a sheep, a woman working on a hide (= tanning) , a farmer as well as a commercial traveller with his horse and wagon . The Glockenspiel invites the citizens again and again to listen to the well known melodies.

....days till witsun (Pfingsten). Many Wildeshausen can complete this sentence anytime flawlessly. Pfingsten means for Wildeshausen the "Gildefest", a week long festival (since 1403) . The "Gilde" has a special connection to the tradition of our town up to this day. The mayor is always the general of the Guild. The town - director is the chef of protocoll (Major) . This makes the old expression: "The town of Wildeshausen is the "Sch�tzengilde" and the Sch�tzengilde is the town of Wildeshausen". A work of art, the granit - sculpture called "cylinder" by A. Boldt represents the Sch�tzengilde in our newly developed inner city. The year 1403 reminds us there about. The "brother hood of 10.000 knights, from which the Sch�tzengilde was formed.

The historic "Rathaus" (=town-hall) is an interesting "Backstein-Bau "(=brick-building) with an imposing "Treppengiebel (eave. partioned into 3 stages) . It gives the marketplace (Marktplatz) an noteworthy appearance.When in 1270 the arch-bishop Hildebold from Bremen gave Wildeshausen the status of a town he presented the property for the building of a town-hall (Rathaus) to Wildeshausen. Wildeshausen belonged for a long time to Bremen. To remember this "gift" an high iron pole, carrying the Bremen symbol of keys, stood high above the eave. Today a weather vane stands in its place. During the time when Wildeshausen had its own jurisdiction the Rathaus was the place to hold the judical proceedings and held also the jail. Still today the upper "Rathaus - Saal" (meeting and ballroom ) is used as official room for the town - counsil. Like always the historic Rathaus plays a big role during the yearly "Gildefest" (= festival of the historic guild, established in 1403) in the springtime the festivities have taken place there for hundreds of years. Through the Gildeplatz (with parking place) we enter the Wittekindstra�e, make a left turn to go to the 1. Dampfkornbranntweinbrennereimuseum (please do repeat!). A visit is guaranted to be extremly interesting.