We close our study of the Renaissance in Franconia and in South Germany with a brief description of the architecture of the two free cities of Rothenburg-on-the-Tauber, and Nuremberg. Rothenburg is a rare relic of the sixteenth century
which has escaped the destroying hands of modernism. This little sixteenth-century stronghold is still absolutely intact; the walls, with all their towers and gates, form such a formidable line of fortifications that the railroad itself has deflected from its course and set up its diminutive station, out of the range of the old cannon slumbering peacefully in the loopholes. Figure 35 gives one of the city gates.
The city, perched on a height, appears toward the valley of the Tauber in the shape of two crescents bristling with towers. A walk along the ramparts offers a continually shifting panorama which no fairy art can give any idea of; and one is not at all disappointed on penetrating into the quaint and quiet streets, which no cavilling street-board has yet disturbed for hygienic reasons. One of the chief edifices is the town-hall,
GERMAN ARCHITECTURE. 1—VI.
south Germany. —• ( Continued.)
B
Y the side of the episcopal cities of Mayence, YV iirzburg and Bamberg, and the monasteries and castles attached to them, the free imperial city of Frankfort shone brilliantly during the sixteenth century; private architecture developed in a unique fashion and several of the residences of the
burghers exhibit
fa§ades and courts with interesting motives (Figures 31-32).
Franconia^ also contains a few remarkable small towns, whose picturesque houses and town-halls testify to an active municipal life; these are Wertheim, with an original fountain of 1574 (Figure 33), Schweinfurt. Lohr, Oclisenfurt and Marktbreit, all with pretty town-halls.
The lay princes built a few important edifices in Franconia; we have already noticed the castle of Offenbach; we will also cite the palaces of the family of Hohenlohe-Langenburg- Mergentheim, with its magnificent spiral staircases, and Weikersheim, which ; has a well decorated hall, and Neuenstein,
with its beautiful portal of 1560.
The margraves of Brandenburg erected the Plassenburg, one of the most imposing castles in all Germany; it dates from the second half of the sixteenth century, and contains some very charming bits of architecture (Figure 34).
i From the French of Lambert and Stahl, in Planat’s Encyclopidie de V Arcliiecture et de la Construction. Continued from No. 819, page 144.
Fig. 36. Gate of Rothenburg.
constructed in 1572 (Figure 36). There are also several private dwellings with interesting courts and facades; a few among them have exceptionally fine interiors. The hospital
and gymnasium are noteworthy structures, externally as well as internally.
Let us now cast a hasty glance at the queen of South German cities, the old free town of Nuremberg, which Rivius calls the German Florence, the mother of the sciences and arts.
Nuremberg was one of the first cities to take a prominent part in the Reformation movement; in 1523, the chronicle says: “We bid adieu to the pope and the papacy, for the old ceremonies are done away with.” The Renaissance also found its way into Nuremberg at an early period ; especially is this true in private architecture which, moreover, includes the most important constructions in the town: the character of the streets is due to the quaint residences with their numerous irregular projections, lofty gables and generally well-designed details.
Fig. 37. Oriel Window from Tucber’s House
at Nuremberg.
Fig. 31. Court of tbe Limburg Palace at Frankfort.
Fig. 33. Fountain at Wertheim.
Fig. 32. Doorway of the Romer or Town-hall at
Frankfort.
which has escaped the destroying hands of modernism. This little sixteenth-century stronghold is still absolutely intact; the walls, with all their towers and gates, form such a formidable line of fortifications that the railroad itself has deflected from its course and set up its diminutive station, out of the range of the old cannon slumbering peacefully in the loopholes. Figure 35 gives one of the city gates.
The city, perched on a height, appears toward the valley of the Tauber in the shape of two crescents bristling with towers. A walk along the ramparts offers a continually shifting panorama which no fairy art can give any idea of; and one is not at all disappointed on penetrating into the quaint and quiet streets, which no cavilling street-board has yet disturbed for hygienic reasons. One of the chief edifices is the town-hall,
GERMAN ARCHITECTURE. 1—VI.
south Germany. —• ( Continued.)
B
Y the side of the episcopal cities of Mayence, YV iirzburg and Bamberg, and the monasteries and castles attached to them, the free imperial city of Frankfort shone brilliantly during the sixteenth century; private architecture developed in a unique fashion and several of the residences of the
burghers exhibit
fa§ades and courts with interesting motives (Figures 31-32).
Franconia^ also contains a few remarkable small towns, whose picturesque houses and town-halls testify to an active municipal life; these are Wertheim, with an original fountain of 1574 (Figure 33), Schweinfurt. Lohr, Oclisenfurt and Marktbreit, all with pretty town-halls.
The lay princes built a few important edifices in Franconia; we have already noticed the castle of Offenbach; we will also cite the palaces of the family of Hohenlohe-Langenburg- Mergentheim, with its magnificent spiral staircases, and Weikersheim, which ; has a well decorated hall, and Neuenstein,
with its beautiful portal of 1560.
The margraves of Brandenburg erected the Plassenburg, one of the most imposing castles in all Germany; it dates from the second half of the sixteenth century, and contains some very charming bits of architecture (Figure 34).
i From the French of Lambert and Stahl, in Planat’s Encyclopidie de V Arcliiecture et de la Construction. Continued from No. 819, page 144.
Fig. 36. Gate of Rothenburg.
constructed in 1572 (Figure 36). There are also several private dwellings with interesting courts and facades; a few among them have exceptionally fine interiors. The hospital
and gymnasium are noteworthy structures, externally as well as internally.
Let us now cast a hasty glance at the queen of South German cities, the old free town of Nuremberg, which Rivius calls the German Florence, the mother of the sciences and arts.
Nuremberg was one of the first cities to take a prominent part in the Reformation movement; in 1523, the chronicle says: “We bid adieu to the pope and the papacy, for the old ceremonies are done away with.” The Renaissance also found its way into Nuremberg at an early period ; especially is this true in private architecture which, moreover, includes the most important constructions in the town: the character of the streets is due to the quaint residences with their numerous irregular projections, lofty gables and generally well-designed details.
Fig. 37. Oriel Window from Tucber’s House
at Nuremberg.
Fig. 31. Court of tbe Limburg Palace at Frankfort.
Fig. 33. Fountain at Wertheim.
Fig. 32. Doorway of the Romer or Town-hall at
Frankfort.