Friday, June 12, 2009

Kamp-Bornhofen



My Images of Kamp-Bornhofen on Imagekind
Kamp-Bornhofen 1
Kamp-Bornhofen 2
Kamp-Bornhofen 3
Kamp-Bornhofen 4
Kamp-Bornhofen 5

Kamp-Bornhofen is a noted spa, St. Mary’s Abbey is a renowned pilgrimage centre. St. Mary’s was consecrated in 1435, and its medieval image of the Virgin Mary is reported to work miracles. Kamp-Bornhofen is closely linked to Burgs Sterrenberg and Liebenstein, also known as the 'Hostile Brothers'. Sterrenberg was built in the eleventh century, and Liebenstein was built between 1284 and 1290. A 2.5 metre thick curtain wall was built around Sterrenberg in reaction the construction of Liebenstein. It was named the 'wall of discord', and the myth of the 'Hostile Brothers' was born.

At the start of the 20th century, St Mary’s became too small to hold the pilgrims, so the Franciscan friars established a square on the northern side in 1912. Approximately two hundred thousand pilgrims admire the portrait and the marble eighteenth century pulpit each year

The story of the hostile brothers tells of an old knight who lived at Sterrenberg with his two sons. His wife was long dead, and the castle was in a constant state of sadness. The knight’s distant cousin died, leaving his beautiful little daughter, Angela, in the knight’s care. Eventually, both boys fell in love with her. The old knight wished his oldest son-and-heir, Henry, to marry the girl, but Angela loved the younger son, Conrad. Both sons decided to go on crusade, but after pleadings from the old knight, Henry decided to remain at home. Even though Angela begged Conrad not to go, he remained determined to leave. Conrad planted a laurel sprig for Angela to tend. He promised that when he returned, he would make a laurel wreath for her.

After a lengthy time, Angela began to look upon Henry with tenderness, and stated that her love for Conrad had been a youthful passion. But Henry refused to betray his brother. The old knight decided to build a new castle, which he called Liebenstein, for his second son to rule upon his return. Shortly after completing the castle’s construction, the old knight died.

Retuning knights told Angela and Henry that, on his way back from the Holy Land, Conrad had married a Grecian princess with whom he was returning home. Henry was furious that his brother would betray Angela in such a manner. He met Conrad on Sterrenberg’s bridge, and the two men commenced fighting. After much bloodshed, Angela stepped between the two, and announced that she would enter a nunnery. Conrad was grieved at what he had done, and took up residence in Liebenstein, where his new wife soon ran off with another knight. Angela retired to the monastery, and she and Henry both died on the same day. When Conrad heard of the deaths, he threw himself off Liebenstein’s ramparts. Both strongholds then fell into the hands of the Knight Brömser of Rüdesheim

Buy my art at ImageKind.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment