"Now it's behind bars": Feldkreuz at the foot of the Kramer occupies Garmisch-Partenkirchner

Created: 06/11/2022, 08:00

By: Tanja Brinkmann

The field cross at the foot of the Kramer in the district of Garmisch is a popular meeting place.

© private

The times when dogs could do their business at the field cross are over.

The owner of the property has now integrated it into her garden.

An absurdity for the representatives of the Garmisch parish of St. Martin.

They fear that they will no longer be able to use the crucifix to the extent they are accustomed to.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

– It shapes.

The residential area at the foot of the Kramer, just like many children who have already started from there for the candlelight procession to the old church.

The Feldkreuz, which stands between Kleinfeldstrasse and Königstandstrasse and after which the small connecting road is appropriately named, means a lot to locals in particular.

But also day-trippers who rest on the bench in front of it after a mountain tour or a walk know it.

No wonder it graces many photos.

Painters like Marion Adam also captured it.

"Now it's behind bars," regrets Felicitas Lingg.

Professor donated Christ figure for the field cross

The chairwoman of the parish council of St. Martin Garmisch is not the only one appalled by the new fence.

After a good 200 years, the cross for which Dr.

Josef Brandl, a professor of pharmacology and pharmacy, donated a body made of cast iron for his - allegedly - wayward son around the time of the First World War, no longer accessible to the public.

Gitta Wünsch finds it “incomprehensible” that it has been integrated into private property and fenced in by the owners for a few weeks.

"The crucifix is ​​a symbol of custom and faith, a beloved feature of this district," says the daughter of the painter Adam, who lives in the neighborhood.

"It was cared for by volunteers, photographed and painted countless times, also by my mother, is a motive for dying, adorns postcards and brochures."

calls them "an insensitive action".

In this opinion, Wünsch is not alone.

Marion Adam painted the field cross with the Zugspitze massif in the background.

© private

Such criticism did not reach the landowner, who wished not to be named.

"I've only had positive feedback on the new design." The reason for this was the condition of the facility.

When she moved to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Christ figure had deteriorated, which is why she had it professionally restored by a sculptor.

The space around the cross had become a dog toilet and waste bin for day trippers.

As a result, the woman whose garden borders the field cross was asked why she allowed it.

She then decided to buy the area in question "to keep the whole thing permanent".

Accordingly, it has also committed itself to the market community to secure the stock and to take over the maintenance for it.

Garmisch Parish Council wishes to move the fence

This information has now reached the Parish Council.

"We are pleased that someone is taking care of the preservation of this very old field cross," says Lingg.

However, she and her colleagues are concerned about what happens "when the heirs or later owners no longer want it".

She also wonders why the market in particular did not consult the pastor in advance.

"A solution would certainly have been found there." A statement from the parish council says: "We would be happy if the fence would run behind the cross again." Or the metal fence would at least give way to a wooden fence.

Such a delimited the symbol of faith earlier, which is evidenced by historical photographs and Adam's paintings.

However, Lingg does not expect this wish to come true.

This historical picture shows that the field cross used to be separated by a wooden fence.

© private

For the parish, the field cross is part of church life.

In addition to the procession at Candlemas, devotions were also celebrated there with children at Easter or St. Nicholas.

Lingg fears that this will no longer be possible in the future.

But the landowner gives the all-clear.

“The parish is welcome to continue using the cross,” she emphasizes.

For this and also for other believers who want to stop there briefly, she chose the design in such a way that the cross remains visible in its entirety.

Of course, she also welcomes the women who took care of the floral decorations.