OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE - DUISBURG AND ITS REGION

Here are some examples of how  students at Mannesmann-Gymnasium see the cultural highlights of their city –monuments as the shared memory of Duisburg´s past or the vibrant places and venues for the young generation to meet at.

 

I. Duisburg city wall and history

 

Duisburg was first founded by the Romans and around the year 420 it was resettled by the Franconians from central Germany. They founded a seat of the royal household on Burgplatz. In 883 the city of Duisburg was mentioned the first time in the archives. The Vikings conquered it at that time.

Between the 10^th century and 1120 the court is extended to a palace and first city fortifications are built. It is 10 meters broad and 2,4 meters high. In front of that is a 12 meter wide and 2,5 meter deep moat. Towards the Rhine the fortification is open.

Many noblemen and kings visited the city, which had become famous by then.

But only in the 13^th century a real wall, also with towers, is put up, because King Lothar III allowed them to use stones from the forest. While building the wall, some already existing towers are integrated. Duisburg city wall is one of the oldest walls of the Rhine area. Also during 13^th century a major turning point in the city’s history occurs: The Rhine changes its path and is 3km away from the city now. Therefore the river is no longer a natural protection in the north and a new piece of city wall has to be built. In the end it is about 10m high and 2,5km long. The wall with its 21 towers and 4 gates is protecting 2000-3000 people and an area of 33 ha.

After a devastating fire in 1283 the royal palace in the city centre of Duisburg is completely destroyed and Salvator Church is built in 1335 at this place.

The wall is needed the first time when the Archbishop of Cologne attacks the city in 1445. The defenders succeed in warding off the attack. From now on the wall is no longer adapted on firearms. At this time Duisburg is a member of the Hanseatic League (since 1407), although it is no longer situated at the Rhine. The inhabitants are mostly farmers and craftsmen.

The location of the city wall is well documented in the coloured etching of Johannes Corputius (* 1542 in Breda, † 1611 in Groningen). This etching is called ‘Corputius plan’ and shows Duisburg in the year 1566.

Corputius Plan (1566)

In this epoch it was unusual to show a city in aerial view. As a student of Gerhard Mercator, he learned to take exact measurements of the area and use them for his works.

Between 1815 (Schwanentor) and 1833 (Kuhtor) the former city gates are knocked down to allow coaches and other vehicles to pass. In 1820 the first house is built outside the old city wall. But a city plan of 1850 still shows the complete wall.

During World War II 90% of the historic district are destroyed, but only 20% of the city wall. While rebuilding the city after the war, most parts of the city wall are broken down to make way for traffic and new buildings. Some parts are kept, as the wall is a part of some buildings.

Today just 26% (670m) of the wall still exist. The biggest part of the remaining wall is in the north-east, next to “Koblenzer Turm” (the oldest tower) in the area of “Innenhafen”. Today some streets and buildings are still indicating the shape of the old wall. They are named “Obermauerstraße, Untermauerstraße, Kuhlenwall and Sonnenwall” because of their location.

Key Red: Original city wall Blue: Former gates of city wall Yellow: Remaining parts (2009)

Satellite view of Duisburg with outline of city wall from 13^th century

Historians were first of the opinion that these remains originated from the first city fortifications dated in the year 1120. But after some scientific research it was clear the city wall from 13^th century was actually built on top of the old fortification.

Sources:

Kultur und Stadthistorisches Museum Duisburg

Joseph Milz, Hartmut Pietsch: Duisburg im Mittelalter

http://www.duisburg.de/micro/stadtentwicklung/medien/pro_Duisburger_Stadtmauer.pdf

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duisburg-Mitte

http://www.duisburgnonstop.de

Picture sources:

http://www.ruhrzeiten.de/Duisburg1566.htm

http://earth.google.com/intl/de/

Additional information:

3D VR model of Duisburg in 1566 http://www.duisburg1566-3d.de/medien/vrmodell.htm

Contemporary pictures of the city wall http://www.duisburg-bilder.de/stadtmauer.htm

Historic overlays for Google Earth http://www.ruhrzeiten.de/Duisburg1566.htm

(author: Jan Schepers, 8f)

 

 

II. STEINHOF

PAST

What today is called Steinhof is one of the few buildings in Duisburg that

dates back to the Middle Ages. Another point that makes it a very

special building is the fact that it is not to be found in the area within

the former city walls but almost halfway between the cities of Duisburg

and Düsseldorf, where at this time hardly any structures with solid

stone walls (Stein=stone) existed.

Being situated in a purely agricultural area it was built as a seignorial

mansion owned by a rich landowner, probably a knight. As a monument

Steinhof is unique because of its fortified tower. Parts of the structure

were burned down in 1830 and in 1954 the barn was built up again. In

former times was a very small lake, where now is the building. The

whole structure is made of bricks. Where today you find a much

frequented beergarden there used to be just a big dunghill.

In 2003 the renovation of the complex was started. The big tower of

the farm-building has got 4 towers. The contour is almost quadratic.

Every floor was built in a different year, and so the old construction

was completed in the course of 200 years, probably starting in the 11^th

Century.The second floor is very special in particular because it boasts

a rather rare form of cross vault There used to be a tunnel between

Steinhof and an adjoining manor house called “Gut Böckum.

PRESENT

Where the tunnel used to be there is today a little fire station. In our days the rooms at Steinhof are a venue for a full range of different social events. Also bands and actors are on stage, for example “Popolski” or “Mike Krüger” which are rather popular in our area. You can also watch some comedians like Guido Cantz. If you prefer political meetings Steinhof also has got something for you. At Christmas time there are a lot of proms, and , of course, a Christmas market is to be found there. In spring there are lots of attractions for smaller children, like funfairs and during the carnival days you can go there and have your face painted. For the men, especially in autumn the local rifle associations have their competitions and dancing nights there. So as you see Steinhof plays a major part as a venue for old and young in an area of Duisburg where there isn´t really much to do.

 

WHAT WE DO THERE

We and our friends go there with members of our local rifle association for practice and just to have some fun in the company of our buddies. It’s always fun to go there, especially with our friends. At Christmas time we go to the Christmas market. Also in spring we have something to do, because then we go there with our sisters, they can play with their friends while we are having a coke. Sometimes we also buy a coke in the nearby EDEKA –market and we sit down on a bench in front of Steinhof to sip it. Sometimes we also go to the beergarden with our families and friends to for drinks and a meal, especially traditional German meals.

Some pictures

Before After

RENOVATION

The famous tower plan of the L-shaped complex

The ´Duisburg All Star Band´ on stage (in a recent concert)

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(Authors: Leonie Melters and Sarah Kubica (8f)

 

 

 

III. Gasometer Oberhausen

 

Originally the gasometer was built to store toxic gases created as a by-product of industrial processes. It was built in 1927 and after two years the great gasometer was finished. It was 117 meters high with a diameter of 67 meters.

After the end of the big industrial boom in the Ruhr area, in 1988 the gasometer was useless and consequently was closed. At first the regional government in Düsseldorf wanted to destroy it. But finally the people decided to turn the big gasometer into a museum. The conversion was finished in 1994, creating an area of 7.000m² as a venue for events of all sorts.

The first big exhibition was opened in 1994 under the name “Feuer und Flamme” (fire and flame). It became very popular because of the unique atmosphere of this place. “Feuer und Flamme” was about the history of the Ruhr area as a centre of coal, iron and steel industries.

Meanwhile you can see the great exhibition „Sternstunden“ (Star hours). It´s about the solar system and the Milky Way and why they exist and how they were created. You can see very spectacular pictures and models of planets and other things in the universe, exspecially the so called „Biggest Moon on Earth“. This is a very detailed copy of the moon, and with a diameter of 25 meters it´s the largest model of the moon worldwide.

And this is how to get there:

 

 

 

IV.  LANDSCHAFTSPARK DUISBURG-NORD

a) picture from the 1920s b) and from our days

In the north of Duisburg, between the districts of Meiderich and Hamborn, an industrial site covering an area of 200 hectares has been turned into a highly unique landscape park, the Landschaftspark Duisburg- Nord! Work started at the project in 1991 as part of the Emscher Park International Building Exhibition. Where until 1985 people were still hard at work, there is now an enormous variety of opportunities for leisure and recreation, sport and culture: the former ore bunkers offer testing challenges for climbers, scuba divers can practice in the former gasometer, while nature lovers can admire the rare plants that have started to re- establish themselves on lost ground. Children can slide through a tube into a former storage bunker. At nightfall, the blast furnaces of the former Meiderich Ironworks are bathed in bright neon – an irresistible attraction for photographers.

We like the park, because we sometimes celebrate our birthdays there. We can go climbing there.

Maybe you prefer going down: Then you can explore the depth of the former gasometer (are you bold enough to go down into that lightless abyss ?)

At night the park is magnificently illuminated, which attracts lots of visitors ; the illumination was designed by Jonathan Park

Here are some details to show you all the splendour:

ABSTRACT ART ?

And if this doesn´t appeal to you, what about the summer open-air cinema with its gigantic screen?

 

 

V. The Duisburg City Theatre

 

Everyone says theatres are boring –not in Duisburg! Why? Well, in Duisburg we`ve got one which is more exciting than ordinary ones, not only because of its history.

You don´t think so? Then just take a look.

Here you see how teenagers are rehearsing a play. Yes, in our theatre everyone is welcome and everyone may play with us.

This is a picture of Duisburg’s theatre which depicts the

architecture very well.

Duisburg’s city-theatre was built by Carl Moritz. In the year

1909 when Karl Lehr was Lord Mayor the theatre was really

popular so he instituted a foundation to build one.

Not only dramas are played here. If you like, you can watch opera productions throughout the winter season

And finally, here are some more pictures of our city theatre.

This is a view of the auditorium.

Here you can see the front by night.

There is quite a stunning sculpture on the square in front of it

(like the skeleton of a whale – some people say rather respectlessly)

Our last picture is rather a curiosity: a miniature model you can hold in your hand. We wonder if anybody would like to buy it (?)

 

 

 

In the printed version of our ´Cultural Heritage´magazine you will find two other contributions which could not be included here for technical reasons. So our post is, unfortunately, more or less a preview