Half-Timbered Houses
by Kathrin_E
Half-timbered houses (Fachwerkhäuser) are the characteristic architecture in and around the low mountain ranges of central Germany. A timber framework is filled with wattle and daub.
The whole old town of Braunschweig consisted of half-timbered houses before the war, it must have been beautiful. Allied air raids and the fire storm of October 1944 reduced 90% of the old town to ash and rubble. Some houses were rebuilt, the majority is lost.
The houses in photo 1 show the regional style that is common in the southern part of Lowert Saxony. The projecting upper storeys are common because of both static advantages and to save tax - the house tax was assessed according to the size of the ground floor. If you see a house with a flat facade like in photo 2, you can be sure it was built no earlier than the late 18th, probably in the 19th century.
The friezes on the horizontal timbers are decorated with traditional patterns: stepped (photo 3), fan (photo 4), or chain (photo 5). In Braunschweig, significant amounts of half-timbered houses can be found in the Magni quarter, around St Ägidien church, in the Michaelis quarter and around Petersstraße/Steinstraße/Eiermarkt.
Arche Noah Zoo
by Kathrin_E
The zoo with the imaginative name is situated in the South between the suburbs of Melverode and Stöckheim, close to lake Südsee. It is a small private zoo, so don't expect too much, but a nice option as a break from sightseeing or to entertain kids for an afternoon. When I was little I was a regular there (we lived nearby).
Since then the zoo has been enlarged and rearranged, most of the old sorry metal and concrete cages have been replaced by modern grassy enclosures that are much roomier. The zoo owners have done a lot.
Still I could not help but notice that some of the animals did not look too well-kept, scrubby fur with sore skin underneath does not indicate health. Visitors are allowed to feed the animals, in theory only with food that is sold at the zoo but people bring bread and whatever, so the diet and the amount of food the animals get is not controlled.
Open daily. March 15 to Oct 31: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Nov 1 to March 14: 10 a.m. till dusk.
Entrance fee: adults € 5, kids € 3
Access by car from Leipziger Straße (parking available). The website linked below has a map.
Public transport: Tram M1, direction "Stöckheim", get off at "Siekgraben".
The Cannon Ball In The Dom Wall
by Kathrin_E
When walking round the Dom church, have a closer look at the wall of the choir apsis. The siege of Braunschweig in 1615 has left a souvenir: A cannon ball got stuck in the wall. Photo 2 shows the exact location. An inscription dates it to August 20, 1615.
Background: The city of Braunschweig had been struggling to keep the Dukes out and gain an independent position as imperial city since the 15th century. The Dukes moved to Wolfenbüttel but never gave up their claim to govern the insubordinate city. Around 1600 they enforced their claim by military force. The hardest siege of all was performed by Duke Friedrich Ulrich in 1615 and lasted 3 months. Braunschweig was about to give up but got help from outside. The Duke had to accept the city's rights once more. His successor Rudolf August, however, finally succeeded in conquering the city in 1671 and finished the citizens' dream of independence.
St Ägidien Church
by Kathrin_E
The steeple-less Ägidien church is the catholic parish church of the city centre and once was a Benedictine monastery. The huge gothic facade dominates the southern end of the Bohlweg. The church was begun in the late 13th century and is the only example of cathedral gothic in Braunschweig.
The former cloister buildings are partly preserved. They host a department of the Landesmuseum.
The church is open in the daytime.
Ringerbrunnen - Wrestlers Fountain
by Kathrin_E
The sculpture was made by the local sculptor Jürgen Weber, professor at Braunschweig University, in the early 1970s. Not everyone was happy with it when it was planned to be put up. Well, the artist took revenge on his critics...
The winning wrestler has the initials of the artist, JW, on his jersey. The loser, the one who is lifted up, wears a jersey that is formed of writing - the names of the critics. The two art critics Weber hated most share a common i-dot in the, ahem, very central point of the pants (see photo 2). The journalist Peter Iden is one of the two. I do not remember, and can't read in the photo, the second name. Weber added these writings in the very last moment before the sculpture was finished. The sponsors had no idea. Surprise surprise.
Source of this information is the artist himself; when I studied architecture in Braunschweig I attended his lectures, and one day he presented his own works. This is what he told us. He was serious about the revenge, he didn't want to be funny. I do not think he had much sense of humour. In those three semesters I never ever saw him laughing.
At the Christmas market
Lion bench at the Dom
Monogram of Duchess Augusta on the fence
Ägidien church: tomb of St Auctor
