What did a medieval stonemason do when heavy rainfall interrupted his
work? Umbrellas are impractical at construction sites. Gore-Tex jackets
weren't yet invented, nor were plastic rain jackets. "He donned a
jacket made of felted loden cloth," says Bert Geurten, the man who plans
to build an authentic monastery town the old-fashioned way.
Felted loden jackets will also be present on rainy days at Geurten's
building site, which is located near Messkirch, in the southwestern
German state of Baden-Württemberg, between the Danube River and Lake
Constance. Beginning in 2013, a Carolingian monastery town will be built
here using only the materials and techniques of the 9th century. From
the mortar to the walls, the rain jackets to the menu, every aspect of
the operation will be carried out as just as it was in the days of
Charlemagne. "We want to work as authentically as possible," says
Geurten.
The building contractor from the Rhineland region has long dreamt of
carrying out his plan. When he was a teenager, the now 62-year-old was
inspired by a model of the St. Gallen monastery plan in an exhibition in
his home city of Aachen. The plan, dating from the beginning of the 9th
century, shows the ideal monastery, as envisioned by Abbot Haito of
Reichenau.
Haito dedicated his drawing to his colleague Abbot Gozbert of St.
Gall, who presided over the monastery from 816 to 837. He meticulously
recorded everything that he believed was necessary for a monastic city,
from a chicken coop to a church for 2,000 worshipers. Altogether he
envisaged 52 buildings -- but they were never built. That will change in
spring 2013, though, when ox-pulled carts wil begin carrying the first
stones to the building site in the forest near Messkirch. It won't be
finished until about 2050, according to estimates.
A Glimpse of the Middle Ages
The lengthy time frame betrays the ambitious dimensions of
the project,
which is not just a tourist attraction, but also a meticulous
scientific undertaking. Twelve experts, including historians, architects
and archaeologists, form the scientific council that oversees the
monastic town. Their job is to advise the artisans while simultaneously
learning from their experiences.
Such experiments offer a rare glimpse into the everyday life of past
centuries. Often there is only one way to find out how people once built
their homes, prepared their food or sewed their clothes -- by
recreating the historic experience. Experimental archeology researchers
have discovered that antique linen armor offers as much protection as
kevlar vests, how beer was brewed in the Bronze Age and how Stone Age
people sharpened blades.
The 9th century -- the era which will be recreated by the Carolingian
monastery town project -- is a particularly interesting focus for such
experiments. There are few surviving documents from the period some
1,100 to 1,200 years ago. "Our goal is not to end up having a monastery
town, but to build it," says Geurten.
The first building will be a small wooden church. "Of course, in the
Middle Ages, they didn't build the large stone church first," says
Geurten. The craftsmen at that time did not want to postpone their
prayers until the stone church was finished, so they constructed a
simple wooden church as an interim arrangement until they could move
into the magnificent stone building decades later.
Harsh Conditions
Carts carrying building materials will be pulled by Hinterwald cows.
With a height of around 115 to 125 centimeters (3' 9" to 4' 1")and
weighing between 172 and 218 kilograms (380 and 480 pounds), these
working animals come the closest to those used during the time of
Charlemagne. "They are descended from the Celts' cattle," says Geurten.
Not just workers will have to adjust to medieval conditions, though.
The plan also includes a special experience for visitors, who will walk a
lengthy distance from the parking lot before reaching the construction
site. "They should feel like they journey in time and leave the present
behind them," says Geurten. If they get hungry, the monastery town will
have a 9th-century menu. "The potato was unknown," says Geurten. "And
there will be no coffee around to drink." Everything that the tradesmen
and visitors will eat will be grown in the soil near the construction
site.
The example of the French castle Guédelon proves that visitors will
not be deterred by such a strict approach. In Burgundy, builders are
constructing the 13th-century castle with medieval techniques. Every
year the site attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. "A Guédelon
visitors' survey has shown that people want to return on average every
three years," explains Geurten. "They want to see the castle grow and
follow its progress."
He hopes for similar success at his monastic town. The project has
initial funding of around €1 million ($1.3 million) from city, state and
European Union sources, but that will only sustain it for the first few
years. After that, the project will have to fund itself.
A Flood of Volunteers
Given the tight budget, craftsmen salaries will remain low. "The net
wage is about €1,200 (per month)," says Geurten. "I can't pay more." The
working hours are also a long way from what German trade unions
recommend these days. They will work from April 2 -- Charlemagne's
birthday -- almost without break until St. Martin's Day, on Nov. 11.
During those eight months, there will be one single weekend off. "In the
Middle Ages, the rent for the year was always paid on St. Martin's
Day," said Geurten. The winter break lasts until April when the
temperatures are warm enough to work again.
Despite the difficult conditions, the project has been swamped with
applications. "I've had 85 stone masons apply already," says Geurten.
"They all dream of having the chance to work with their hands." This
also applies to the blacksmith. "They won't be hammering kitschy
horseshoes for tourists. The forge must supply the site with tools," he
adds.
Overall, the construction site will have 20 to 30 permanent staff in
addition to volunteers. There has already been a lot of interest. "From
Lufthansa pilots to a teacher, all kinds of people have applied." One
candidate even sent his application written in medieval German on a real
roll of parchment. Meanwhile, schools will likely be allowed to join in
with the site's work for as long as a week. "We are developing a plan
that will enable the children to prepare for their experience in the
classroom first," says Geurten.
It will take about 40 years until the final stone is laid in the
monastery church. By then it is highly unlikely that Geurten will still
be alive. But he doesn't mind. "I just want a founding father's tomb in
the crypt. Then they could come and light candles for me," he says.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/medieval-monastery-town-to-be-built-in-southern-germany-a-822375.html
