From the point of view of monument protection, Miesbach is a cultural-historical treasure chest. This was also recently demonstrated during the visit of the Middle Franconian member of the state parliament Sabine Weigand (Greens).
Miesbach – As part of a monument protection tour, she also paid a visit to the district town as a member of the State Monuments Council and the Committee for Science and Art.
District architect Christian Boiger took the opportunity to present a gem in addition to the children's home in the monastery, the further development of which has yet to be clarified: the former Café Kern, which is located between Frühlingstraße and Marienplatz and has been empty for many years after it had been run by the Kern family until 2006. It is not the two front buildings facing Frühlingstraße that are the focus of monument protection, but the rear hall, which was added to the two houses built in 1936 in 1914.
Privately owned buildings
During the tour, the building, which is privately owned, could not be visited inside, but that was not a problem. After all, anyone can view a central element for Boiger from Marienplatz: the fresco by Heinrich Bickel under the roof.
As the district architect explains, the scene shows the wedding at Cana, interpreted in a native way: The bride presumably comes from the Oberland, while the groom is likely to come from Tyrol according to the wide-brimmed hat. With regard to the construction period during the Third Reich, Boiger sees the building as protest architecture: "That was a statement – away from the Wilhelmine ostentation. At the same time, the regional architecture was taken up." This becomes even clearer in the fresco. "It professes its commitment to the Church at a time when people had distanced themselves from the Church." The people were not depicted in the Nazi style as tall, strong, radiant, but delicately and normally proportioned – "so no hands like vices, no Germanic heroes". In addition, the groom from Tyrol in the traditional costume town of Miesbach, which could stand for cross-border community. Overall, the picture radiates faith, charity and community, says Boiger. "From today's perspective, the client says: I'm not a brown."
Buildings from this period are rare
Buildings from this period are rare, the architect adds. Very few were not built in the Nazi style and have been preserved. In the case of Café Kern, there is also the fact that the hall is also "of outstanding importance" on the inside, because windows and wall lights have also been preserved. This harmonious overall picture also makes the hall an individual monument, while the two front houses are only subject to the ensemble protection of Miesbach's city centre.
This difference is significant, explains Boiger: "With ensemble protection, only the shell is protected. Inside you could rebuild. This is not possible with the individual monument." Here, the use is subject to narrower limits. And the owner is legally obliged to ensure the preservation of the monument. However, the district architect emphasizes that this does not mean that you "put a cheese bell over it". Rather, it is the claim of the monument protection in the district of Miesbach to find good, feasible solutions in dialogue with all parties involved. "As a district office, we can only advise in cooperation with the owner and the city." In doing so, the authority does not wait until an application is received, but contacts it on its own initiative in order to enter into an exchange. This was also the case with Café Kern. However, he could not talk about the interests on the part of the owners: "That's a private matter."
Monuments should be lived and loved
However, one thing is clear: monument protection costs money. Ideally, says Boiger, the monuments should be lived and loved. A claim that he would also like to see in the future at Café Kern in Miesbach's city centre. However, he generally takes up the cudgels for renovation: "Up to ten percent of CO2 emissions are attributable to the production of cement. A new building therefore leaves a significant ecological footprint. Renovation is the more harmless option. Especially if you simply build, with regional building materials such as wood."
Monuments could therefore be an example of the long use and life expectancy of buildings. "There's a lot you can do," says Boiger. "This also applies to monument protection and individual monuments."
