Moritzbastei
Encyclopedia
The Moritzbastei is the only remaining part of the ancient town fortifications of Leipzig
. Today it is widely known as a cultural centre.
in between 1551-1554 under the supervision of the mayor Hieronymus Lotter, who was also responsible for Leipzig's Altes Rathaus (old town hall) which is one of the most important Renaissance
buildings in Germany
. Elector Moritz of Saxony
directed the reconstruction of the town fortifications of Leipzig after it became largely destroyed during the Smalkaldic War between German Emperor Charles V
and the Smalkaldic League.
After being stormed for the first time in the Thirty Years War, the Moritzbastei lost its military function in the Seven Years War. Henceforth it served as a store for trade goods and workplace for a bell founder and a book printer.
In the period 1796-1834, the first public school (1. Bürgerschule) was built over the basement of the Moritzbastei by architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe
. It was the first school in Germany without confessional segregated classes and was destroyed in 1943 during World War II
.
From 1974 the Moritzbastei was rebuilt under the supervision of the University of Leipzig
. More than 30,000 students were engaged in the reconstruction of the bastion, among them the recent Chancellor of Germany
, Angela Merkel
. From 1982 onwards the Moritzbastei was the official students club of the University of Leipzig.
to allow it to be rebuilt. Subsequently it was run by the Free German Youth
as a venue for encounter and cultural events.
From 1992 the Moritzbastei was no longer part of the University of Leipzig
and became a commercial foundation.
.
The Board of Trustees, which oversees the work of the foundation without institutional subvention, consists of one representative of the city of Leipzig
, the Free State of Saxony
and the student body.
In recent years artists from all over the world have been guests of the Moritzbastei.
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. Today it is widely known as a cultural centre.
History of the building
The Moritzbastei was built as a bastionBastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
in between 1551-1554 under the supervision of the mayor Hieronymus Lotter, who was also responsible for Leipzig's Altes Rathaus (old town hall) which is one of the most important Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
buildings in 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...
. Elector Moritz of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
directed the reconstruction of the town fortifications of Leipzig after it became largely destroyed during the Smalkaldic War between German Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
and the Smalkaldic League.
After being stormed for the first time in the Thirty Years War, the Moritzbastei lost its military function in the Seven Years War. Henceforth it served as a store for trade goods and workplace for a bell founder and a book printer.
In the period 1796-1834, the first public school (1. Bürgerschule) was built over the basement of the Moritzbastei by architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe
Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe
Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe was a German architect and etcher who specialised in the Neo-Classical style.Dauthe was born in Leipzig and educated by Adam Friedrich Oeser...
. It was the first school in Germany without confessional segregated classes and was destroyed in 1943 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
From 1974 the Moritzbastei was rebuilt under the supervision of the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
. More than 30,000 students were engaged in the reconstruction of the bastion, among them the recent Chancellor of Germany
Chancellor of Germany
The Chancellor of Germany is, under the German 1949 constitution, the head of government of Germany...
, Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
. From 1982 onwards the Moritzbastei was the official students club of the University of Leipzig.
Moritzbastei as students club
In 1973 or 1974 students discovered the remains of the Moritzbastei and persuaded the university and city of LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
to allow it to be rebuilt. Subsequently it was run by the Free German Youth
Free German Youth
The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany....
as a venue for encounter and cultural events.
From 1992 the Moritzbastei was no longer part of the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
and became a commercial foundation.
Moritzbastei since 1993
Since 1993 the Moritzbastei has been run under the licence of the Moritzbastei foundation as a well known cultural centre. Its main purpose being to foster and sustain the student and academic culture in Leipzig. The foundation is headed by the vice chancellor of the University of LeipzigUniversity of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
.
The Board of Trustees, which oversees the work of the foundation without institutional subvention, consists of one representative of the city of Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, the Free State of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
and the student body.
In recent years artists from all over the world have been guests of the Moritzbastei.