Moosburg
Encyclopedia
Moosburg an der Isar is a town in the Landkreis
Freising
of Bavaria
, Germany
.
The oldest town between Regensburg
and Italy
, it lies on the river Isar
at an altitude of 421 m (1381 ft). It has 17,275 inhabitants (2005) and covers an area of 44 km². It is easily reached by the A 92 autobahn
and regional trains on the Munich–Regensburg line. Furthermore it just takes 10 minutes to get to the Munich airport.
Moosburg is popular with commuters to Munich, Freising, and the Munich airport. There is considerable industry in the town - with chemical, electrotechnical, food processing, and machine-building plants.
Abbey in Moosburg in the 8th century: a cluster of dwellings and artisans sprang up around it. Duke Heinrich der Löwe started the construction of the Kastulus Minster (cathedral)
in 1171, dedicated to Saint Castulus. In the 12th century, a town was established and received its first charter in 1311. The walls and moat were completed in the 15th century. The town reached its peak during the early part of the 16th century. In 1599, the Benedictines moved to Landshut
reducing Moosburg's importance.
Sieges and plundering during the Thirty Year War started the decline of the town. In 1702, a fire reduced half the buildings to ashes. Moosburg suffered further depradation during the War of the Austrian Succession
and the Napoleonic Wars
. Another disastrous fire in 1865 resulted in the downtown area being redeveloped in the style of the late 19th century.
During the 1920s and 1930s, new industries revived the town. In September 1939, a prisoner of war camp Stalag VII-A
was built to accommodate 10,000. By early 1945, the number of registered prisoners had grown to more than 80,000 - many working in regional industries and farms. It is likely that the presence of this camp close to the town center spared it from large-scale bombing.
After the liberation of the camp by the Americans
at the end of April 1945, it was turned into Civilian Internment Camp #6 for 12,000 German men and women suspected of criminal activity for the Nazi regime. The camp was released by the Americans in 1948 and served to house German refugee
s exiled from eastern areas. It became a new part of the town, named Moosburg-Neustadt.
The Romanesque
style west doorway of the Minster was actually built in the 19th century.
The Baroque
façades
that survived the 1865 fire can be seen at the east end of Herrnstrasse, for instance the red front of the chemist's shop.
The Memorial
to inmates of Stalag VII-A is a fountain in the center of Neustadt. It consists of four Bas-reliefs created out of local stone by the French sculptor Antoniucci Volti while he was a prisoner in the camp.
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
Freising
Freising
Freising is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Freising. Total population 48,500.The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Munich International Airport...
of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The oldest town between Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, it lies on the river Isar
Isar
The Isar is a river in Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel range of the Alps in Tyrol; it enters Germany near Mittenwald, and flows through Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching the Danube near Deggendorf. At 295 km in length, it is the fourth largest river...
at an altitude of 421 m (1381 ft). It has 17,275 inhabitants (2005) and covers an area of 44 km². It is easily reached by the A 92 autobahn
Bundesautobahn 92
The connects Munich with Deggendorf, and is 134 kilometers long. Between the interchange Neufahrn and the interchange Munich Airport it has three lanes, otherwise two with a shoulder...
and regional trains on the Munich–Regensburg line. Furthermore it just takes 10 minutes to get to the Munich airport.
Moosburg is popular with commuters to Munich, Freising, and the Munich airport. There is considerable industry in the town - with chemical, electrotechnical, food processing, and machine-building plants.
History
There was a BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Abbey in Moosburg in the 8th century: a cluster of dwellings and artisans sprang up around it. Duke Heinrich der Löwe started the construction of the Kastulus Minster (cathedral)
Minster (cathedral)
Minster is an honorific title given to particular churches in England, most famously York Minster. The term minster is first found in royal foundation charters of the 7th century; and, although it corresponds to the Latin monasterium or monastery, it then designated any settlement of clergy living...
in 1171, dedicated to Saint Castulus. In the 12th century, a town was established and received its first charter in 1311. The walls and moat were completed in the 15th century. The town reached its peak during the early part of the 16th century. In 1599, the Benedictines moved to Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
reducing Moosburg's importance.
Sieges and plundering during the Thirty Year War started the decline of the town. In 1702, a fire reduced half the buildings to ashes. Moosburg suffered further depradation during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
and the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. Another disastrous fire in 1865 resulted in the downtown area being redeveloped in the style of the late 19th century.
During the 1920s and 1930s, new industries revived the town. In September 1939, a prisoner of war camp Stalag VII-A
Stalag VII-A
During World War II, Stalag VII-A was Germany's largest prisoner-of-war camp, located just north of the town of Moosburg in southern Bavaria. The camp covered an area of 35 ha. . It served also as a transit camp through which prisoners, including officers, were processed on their way to other camps...
was built to accommodate 10,000. By early 1945, the number of registered prisoners had grown to more than 80,000 - many working in regional industries and farms. It is likely that the presence of this camp close to the town center spared it from large-scale bombing.
After the liberation of the camp by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the end of April 1945, it was turned into Civilian Internment Camp #6 for 12,000 German men and women suspected of criminal activity for the Nazi regime. The camp was released by the Americans in 1948 and served to house German refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s exiled from eastern areas. It became a new part of the town, named Moosburg-Neustadt.
Main sights and culture
The Main Altar of the Kastulus Minster is the principal masterpiece of the wood sculptor Hans Leinberger of Landshut. Originally, the altar was a triptych, in which the side panels could be swiveled inward to close the altar. Today, the side panels hang above the choir stalls.The Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style west doorway of the Minster was actually built in the 19th century.
The Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
façades
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
that survived the 1865 fire can be seen at the east end of Herrnstrasse, for instance the red front of the chemist's shop.
The Memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
to inmates of Stalag VII-A is a fountain in the center of Neustadt. It consists of four Bas-reliefs created out of local stone by the French sculptor Antoniucci Volti while he was a prisoner in the camp.
Partner cities
- Bry-sur-MarneBry-sur-MarneBry-sur-Marne is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.The commune of Bry-sur-Marne is part of the sector of Porte de Paris, one of the four sectors of the "new town" of Marne-la-Vallée.-Personalities:...
, (France) - Rochester, MinnesotaRochester, MinnesotaRochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
, (USA) - Moosburg, (Austria)
Books
- Roger DEVAUX : Treize Qu'ils Etaient - Life of the French prisoners of war at the peasants of low Bavaria (1939-1945) - Treize Qu'ils Etaient - Mémoires et Cultures - 2007 - ISBN 2-916062-51-3
External links
- Moosburg Online - information about Moosburg
- http://www.alt-moosburg.de/ - pictures of old Moosburg