Here I met with art historian Britta Schulze-Böhm, who has been working for the research center in the knowledge transfer department for many years. We talked about the history of the unique palatinate in Ingelheim, special excavation moments and her personal favorite place.
A palace in the residential area
At the Heidesheimer Tor, one of three large monument areas of the Imperial palace in IngelheimI have an appointment with Britta Schulze-Böhm. My way there leads through the middle of a residential area that at first glance seems unremarkable. Again and again, however, I discover quite unusual masonry between ordinary residential buildings. It's hard to believe that a magnificent palace complex once stood here - and yet that's exactly what becomes more evident with every step.
The friendly art historian explains to me what the place is all about, which Charlemagne had built around 800 AD. Important rulers of the early Middle Ages would have always been on the move and therefore created numerous bases in their empires. They had a kind of "hotel function" and at the same time served as stages for the demonstration of power. Assemblies would have been convened, court held and justice dispensed. "Politics was made here," she emphasizes.
On historical ground
There were many medieval palaces during Charlemagne's reign, says Britta Schulze-Böhm, but only a few know exactly where they were located. For this reason alone, the imperial palace in Ingelheim is a real specialty. I quickly learn that it's not the only one. "The fact that upright masonry has survived at all here in Central Europe from the time around 800 is a great rarity," the art historian enthuses, pointing to the semicircular architecture around us.
The exposed, differently colored stones of the Heidesheim Gate bear witness to the different building materials used in the region around Ingelheim several years ago. We descend a few steps and find ourselves about 1.50 meters below today's street level at historic ground level. "This is a wonderful way for visitors to experience how large the medieval buildings really were," she says, explaining the design of the monument area.
More valuable than gold and silver
As we continue our stroll through the Imperial Palace, Britta Britta Schulze-Böhm tells me what brought her to Ingelheim in 2003. "In fact I came here because of the excavations and spent a summer really digging," she recalls. and spent a summer really digging along," she recalls. She says that digging has been going on continuously since 1993. The core district in the residential area has been completed for the time being, but scientific work is in the city, scientific work is continuing to uncover its medieval history as best as possible. medieval history as best as possible.
I ask about her favorite find and whether it was even something she discovered herself. The art historian has to laugh: "Well, the one I found wasn't that spectacular." But she wants to show me her favorite find and leads me unerringly to another important monument area of the Imperial Palace in Ingelheim. We are standing in the middle of the Aula regia, the former throne room of the palace complex, and let the dimensions of the building, which was immensely large by the standards of the time, sink in.
Finally, Britta Schulze-Böhm points to an artistically decorated stone that I probably wouldn't have noticed on my own. "The so-called Kämpferplatte is a piece of building sculpture that has been preserved in its original position for 1,200 years," she explains with shining eyes. The usually load-bearing stone suggests an imposing round arch. She shows me a reconstruction, with which I can wonderfully imagine the magnificent architecture of the Carolingians. "For us, treasures don't always mean gold and silver, but also simply masonry," the art historian enthuses.
An exciting time
After her sweaty summer of excavation work, Britta Schulze-Böhm soon returned to the Kaiserpfalz research center. Her the special mixture of archaeological research and knowledge transfer for the public. for the public, is something she particularly enjoys. "It's great that you not sitting in an ivory tower, but that hopefully we can get a lot of people for the very exciting time of the Middle Ages," she says.
We are now standing in front of the visitor center and Museum near the imperial palacewhich thematically complements the openly accessible monument areas in the residential area. "The most important exhibits that we can't show in the outdoor area are displayed here," explains the art historian, emphasizing that the two intertwine very nicely. For example, the museum houses the world's only gold coin with an image of Charlemagne, which was found during excavations in Ingelheim.
I look back from here at the surrounding apartment buildings and wonder if there aren't many more treasures of this kind hidden beneath them. For Britta Schulze-Böhm, this question does not arise. "We are here in the middle of the center of the medieval imperial palace. It's absolutely clear that there are still traces everywhere in the ground," she says, and her eyes light up again at this thought.
Your visit to the Imperial Palace in Ingelheim
You can visit the impressive imperial palace either on your own along the Historical circuit or in the context of a Leadership with specially trained and regularly trained guides. They are also happy to respond to your individual wishes. The opening hours of the visitor center and museum at the imperial palace can be found at this page.
