 Hirsau, the Carolingian Ambo
Hirsau has a history of failed abbeys. A first one is recorded in Pippin times (8th century, possibly earlier). A second or third one dates from the Carolingian period (early 9th century). Some banded pulpit fragments survive. The largest is shown here. (Technically an 'ambo', the Greek word for mount / speaker's rostrum is always useful if you cannot make up your mind if something should be regarded as pulpit or as lectern, the latter usually unadorned.)
The church served as shrine for the reliques of Aurelius (plural in analogy with bones?) They did come from Milan like all good reliques at the time (the Three Magi shrine of Cologne). The reliques disappeared subsequently until Leo IX insisted on a general search at the occasion of a visit of state in 1049. Semi-official version, the reliques were secreted away by one of the last monks of the Carolingian monastery. (Inherent question: where do you hide bones in an abbey. An oblique Calvin comment, usually so...
|  Hirsau,St.Aurelius
The is a model of 11th century St.Aurelius of the eponymous abbey. Only part of the nave and the bases of the Western towers remain. Some of the stones of the missing parts will have gone into the construction of Ludwig's upscale hunting lodge (the Renaissance annex of the Hirsau Abbey).
|  Hirsau, St. Aurelius
The Earl of Calw (Adalbert II) and patron saints in front of St.Aurelius (in the picture still with clearstory). Possibly part of a lost triptych, ca 1480.
|  Hirsau, St.Aurelius
One of the massive Romanesque pillars in the nave of the church. The rather dark interior may give the involuntary impression of a nightclub. Technical explanation: The whole clearstory superstructure has been removed. The dismantling will reverse the normal building process. Nightclub tangent, some stained glass windows but no strobe light effects. [The crescent shape 'watermark' on the unadorned capitel is a hallmark of churches affiliated with Hirsau. The present pillars are 12th century. I have to assume that the original arcades were replaced. You normally do this as soon as your are finished with the roofing.]
|  Hirsau, St.Aurelius
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 Hirsau, St.Aurelius
Reliquary caskets were once encrusted with actual jewels. Semi precious stones (lapis lazuli and amethyst) are employed in this case. Main stylistic objection, the tapered acorn shape (LED shape) is too uniform. One bead size serves all. The bronze table and reliquary casket are by Otto H.Hajek (refugee by name and place of birth), 1955. See no clear connection between the inscription (work ethic, do not sleep on the job) and the healing and resurrection motive.
|  Hirsau, St-Aurelius
The Spanish Madonna, 14th century. - Supplicant and benefactor. A surrogate hearing. Some Platonic background space. (Wheeled juggernauts for all occasions.)
|  Hirsau, St.Aurelius
|  Hirsau, St.Aurelius
Just wide enough for passing through a cup of hot java (or a collection box for that matter). And walls have arms.
|  Hirsau, the Abbey and the Castle
Model of the Peter and Paul abbey, the Hirsau Abbey per se. It is located at the left side of the Nagold on more elevated, less inundation prone ground. Wilhelm, the legendary prior, supervised its construction while still residing in the St.Aurelius abbey. I suspect that he was not only learned but also a heck of a fund raiser. Hirsau abbey experienced a period of rapid growth in the second half of the 11th century. These periods of rapid growth are more the rule than the exception in monastery history. Lay brethren became also prominent in this period.
Wilhelm was also somewhat of a software writer like most renowned persons of his time. If one does it all do it. Only difference that the op codes dealt in this case with the day by day life of the monks, which was regulated in the most minute detail. Particular name of this office suite: Institutionis Hirsaugensis. By what I gather basically a Cluny rip off. Discipline was highly valued.
Maquette > KMH
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 Hirsau, Peter and Paul Abbey
On site ground plan, Peter and Paul Abbey and Renaissance Castle.
The whole cloister was shifted a few meters to the East during a 15th century overhaul. That way you could built a Gothic walkway right at the side of the Romanesque one before tearing down the latter. The idea would not work for the East-West walkways. The dogleg in the North-East corner is a remaining testimony of that shift. The whole Romanesque basilica may at one time have been earmarked for a similar treatment. As long as it keeps everyone busy. Corollary: All the other buildings attached to the cloister had to be shifted likewise. In case you just shake your head, the basilica towers were originally built at the wrong end. The West end twin towers were a second attempt.
|  Hirsau Abbey, the Coat of Arms
The abbey's coat of arms purports to show just the two patron saints, Peter and Paul, even though it looks suspiciously like a local interpretation of the doctrine of the two swords.
The Hirsau Abbey stood firmly in the Guelfic (Guelphic) camp. (Even before that particular name was coined.)
Slightly cynical abstract, weak popes who had any particular sovereignty ideas (erstwhile terminology, 'entitled to hand out swords') were put into empty barrels of herring and shipped to the nearest reeducation camp. Popes who had strong allies (Norman kingdoms, Lombardic townships, Guelf contenders, self serving strong men) did get away with it. - The herring barrel is free invention, death by maltreatment did however occur. So much for the sheer dignity of the office. Post Staufic period. The Emperors are gone, the arbitration problems persist.
|  Hirsau Abbey, feudal holdings
Map of the feudal holdings of the Hirsau abbey in the 12th century. A general austerity program did not mean that the revenue side of things was in any way neglected.
Most of the land endowment did come with obligations. This was particularly true for a founding donation. 'Do ut des', which is Latin for Indian gift. Material as well as spiritual support was in this case expected (beyond perpetual memorial services). Strong argument for a switch to the Guelfic side, reduced service obligation, half a loaf is better than nothing (it was not called taxation at the time). - Land endowed parish churches were also run by the abbey.
The abbey tried to consolidate its heteroclite holdings in later centuries. A mutually beneficial arrangement with other abbeys should have been possible.
Map > KMH
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
Eulenturm, view from the cloister by Luz, ca 1900. > KMH
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
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 Hirsau, Eulenturm
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
The first three stories were done in finest ashlar. Often more a curse than a blessing (keyword, building stone recycling). The two broken arch springs which connected it with its dismantled twin tower can still be seen. - Some bas-reliefs (arches inscribed within arches waiting for a virtual aqueduct.)
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
Hardly the most winsome caryatid you could imagine.
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 Hirsau, Eulenturm
Watching the sunset (the shading hand somewhat pointless). More likely just a lookout. Still waiting for the dragon boats, straining against the current. (I do not think the Nagold is navigable. Downstream rafts at the limit.)
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
mischievous goat
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
Nearly head jointed corner lion. Beware of the canines.
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
Do I hear the ringing of a curfew bell and some hastily cited Hail Maries.
|  Hirsau, Eulenturm
The base of the Eulenturm twin. A new parsonage was built with the rest. (18th cent.) Sledgehammer first.
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 Hirsau, Eulenturm
Praying monk (Ovid quip, desinit in mermaid, 4th case ending) from the razed South tower (quarry fate, the stones were used for the 18th century vicarage.) Greiner find from 1923. Sculpture itself is dated ± 1123, somewhat later than the main abbey, the aforementioned tower castling. Motive is of some importance (missing link territory). Even as the church itself was divided into a patres and a lay brethren half so one tower frieze will have been dedicated to each of the two communities. (Represented by bearded lay brethren and clean shaven monks respectively. The clean shaven look is Roman gentry tradition.)
Greiner, the local historian in charge of the dig, proposes an interesting though unlikely theory: Starting with the observation that only one of the three shepherds seems to shoulder any actual load, the poor South facing one, he conjectures that an inclined plane, speak the ecliptic, is actual carried. Suggested extension from my part: the algae covered father and ...
|  the Romanesque basilica
Artistic reconstruction of the 11th century basilica. Cluny emulation. Fact sheet: With a total length of 97m one of the largest in the world at the time. Certainly amble room for the 100 to 200 monks and an unspecific number of lay brethren. Hardly a stone remains today. Overall impression, an empty football field. Melac hardly the only culprit of this sorry state of affairs. Many of the good citizens of Calw will have sized the opportunity to upgrade their burnt down wooden dwellings to stone mansions. > On site showboard
|  the Romanesque basilica
The well rounded Northern transept doorway. (Some doors at the time still used concave pivot stones rather than iron hinges.)
|  the Romanesque basilica
Cloister or cemetery gate. (The abbey cemetery did became the cabbage garden of the vicarage. At present just a well tended lawn with a small lapidarium in the North corner.)
|  the Romanesque basilica
Cross ribbed keystone ornament (draped in stone). You would have gotten the best view on all those keystones floating in supine position on a raft during a flooding. Might have come from one of the basilica adjacent chapels. > KMH
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 the Romanesque basilica
Cross ribbed keystone ornament, St.John. A chicken may have served as model (reduced wing span). > KMH
|  the Romanesque basilica
ornamental checkerboard banding, in situ
|  the Romanesque basilica
Ornamental checkerboard banding, museum's exhibit. Most likely a matching clearstory fragment. > KMH
|  the Romanesque basilica
Wolfram Maiser, abbey prior for more than 30 years. The Doge look (ear flaps) will be accidental. I do not know if the basilica choir and the 'overflow' chapels showed only the effigies of the priors or of if they were in fact buried there. I suspect the later. Death cult was an integral part of the monastic life style. > KMH
|  Abbey, the cloister arcades
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 Abbey, the cloister arcades
my alter ego is also there
|  Abbey, the cloister
It is reported that all those windows were once glassed. Habit wearing chameleons in every changing colors doing the Corso. Visiting Roman senator: I want just same for the atrium of my Pompeii dacha. [Not sure of the overall effect. Monks covered in multi-colored skin painting during their afternoon perambulation. Transient chameleon skin only.]
|  Abbey, the cloister
Personal tracery classification, 'ichthyoform'. Some color cycling from my part. No particular pattern was ever repeated.
|  Abbey, the cloister
I will dedicate this one to Milka (particular brand name of Kraft Foods). No that I would recommend the munching of tracery.
|  Abbey, the cloister
look into the past
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