During the centuries many different German kings and emperors
stayed here and carried out many important political acts.
The town freed itself from the influence of the king in 1256 by
destroying the palatine castle, now they were imperial free city.
To this day buildings from this period characterize the townscape.
You can find a remarkable town hall, its history reaches back to
the 13th century. Furthermore visitors can discover an almost
completely preserved town wall which is partly walkable, 11
preserved mediaeval churches and impressive stone as well as half
timbered houses.
During the period of the Reformation and German Peasants revolt
Mühlhausen was a centre because the radical reformer Thomas Müntzer
preached in the town. He played an important role during this
period and was finally executed in May 1525.
The Reformation also had influence onto musical traditions.
Mühlhausen became a major centre for Protestant church music. The
climax of the town’s musical life came during Johann Sebastian
Bach’s time as organist at Divi Blasii Church from 1707 - 1708. The
organ was rebuilt in 1959 according to Bach’s original 1708
specification.
Hanseatic City Guide – Mühlhausen
Address
City council Mühlhausen
Ratststraße 19
99974 Mühlhausen
Tel.: +49 (3601) 45 20
Fax: +49 (3601) 45 21 77
Email: info@stadtverwaltung.muelhausen.de
Tourist Information: service@touristinfo-muehlhausen.de
The Town
Mühlhausen in Thuringia is situated in the west of Thuringia
between the Harz and the Thuringian Forest on the upper reaches of
the Unstrut River. Mühlhausen is known as the city of towers and
churches. It was first mentioned in 967 in a document of Otto II,
German king and Roman Emperor.
In mediaeval times Mühlhausen was the most important city after
Erfurt, which is capital city of Thuringia today.
Große Ratsstube (photo by Neumann)
Divi Blasii Kirche (photo by Sieland)
In 1802 the town lost its privileges as a free imperial city and
became the administrative centre of Prussian district.
The economy was based on textile production, wood growing,
agriculture and long distance trade with these goods. During the
1848 revolution, it played an important role in the liberal
movement. The onset of industrialization then brought expansion to
traditional industries of Mühlhausen and introduced mechanical
engineering and food production. Some of these sectors are still
today very important for the town’s economy.
Mühlhausen in the Hanseatic League
Since 1286 the imperial free city was involved in the trade of the
Hanseatic League. In mediaeval times the possibility for trades and
alliances was limited, therefore connections to the near coastal
cities in the northeast played a role for economic life in
Mühlhausen. During the 14th and 15th centuries hanseatic activities
generally took place through outposts in Lower Saxony. Important
trade routes crossed the town and the industrial products were
exported to England, Livland, Russia and Sweden.
Mühlhausen joined the modern Hanseatic League in 1990, the
membership of the town is a well established part of its heritage.
In 1996 a district of new houses in the north – eastern part of
Mühlhausen received the name “Hanseviertel” (Hanseatic district)
with streets named after hanseatic cities.
(photo by Sieland)
Celebrities
Kristan von Mühlhausen († 3. September 1295)
Kristan descended from a wealthy family of high-ranking imperial
civil servants. In 1271 he joined the German Order. From 1272 he
served as a pastor in the St. Blaise church. In the German Order he
became commander of the regional administrative district of the
Order around Mühlhausen. He rose to be the Bishop of Samland
(Königsberg) in 1276 and he was a suffrage bishop of the Diocese of
Mainz.
Thomas Müntzer (*before 1490 † 27 May 1525 (executed))
He studied in Leipzig and Frankfurt/Oder and had been engaged in
pastoral activity in several places. In 1524 he came from Allstedt
to Mühlhausen, but in September the political situation changed and
Müntzer was expelled from the imperial free city. In February 1525
he was back in Mühlhausen and at St. Mary's Church he preached for
the return to "The Law of God". Müntzer became the spiritual leader
of the radical reformist wing in the Peasants' War. After the
military defeat of the rebelling peasants near Frankenhausen he was
captured, tortured and finally executed outside Mühlhausen.
Heinrich Pfeiffer († 27 May 1525 (executed))
Inspired by reformation ideas, Heinrich Pfeiffer fled the monastery
of Reifenstein in 1521. The preaching in his hometown Mühlhausen
intensified the ongoing political tensions in the city. He was
expelled from Mühlhausen but returned soon. He became Thomas
Müntzer's associate in August 1524. In spring 1525, he and Müntzer
became the leaders of the revolts in Mühlhausen and Thuringia. He
was captured and beheaded next to Müntzer.
Johann Rudolf (*24 December 1625 † 9 July 1673) and
Johann Georg Ahle (*12 June 1651 † 2 December 1706)
After studies in Göttingen and Erfurt Johann Rudolf Ahle became
cantor at St. Andreas in Erfurt. In 1654 he was appointed organist
in his home town of Mühlhausen. Starting in 1655 he served as a
member of the town council and in 1673 he was elected their mayor.
Johann Georg Ahle became the organist at the Divi Blasii Church,
thus becoming his father's successor. In 1680 he was declared poet
laureate by the Emperor.
As recognised organists and composers, father and son solidified
Mühlhausen's reputation as a city of church music.
Johann Sebastian Bach (*21 March 1685 † 18 July 1750)
Following his organ recital in Mühlhausen on 24 April 1707, Johann
Sebastian Bach was appointed organist at St Blasius’ on 15 June
1707. In Mühlhausen he composed well-known cantatas such as I call
you from the depth, My Lord; BWV 131 and God is my King; BWV 71.
These are typical compositions for his time in Mühlhausen often
referred to as the period of his "early masterpieces". In 1959 the
organ builder Schuke revived Bach's ideas and built a new organ for
Mühlhausen.
On 25 June 1708 Bach wrote a petition to be relieved of his duties
for a number of reasons. However, he remained a friend of the town
all his life.
Willhelm Gottlieb Tilesius von Tilenau (*17 July 1769 † 17 May
1857)
After studies of medicine, natural sciences and philosophy Tilenau
was appointed professor of natural history at Moscow University in
1802. He took part in the first Russian world sailing tour and
documented the finds. His work was honoured by admission to the
Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In 1814 he returned to his
birthplace Mühlhausen. By illustrating the "Chronicle" of his uncle
Christian Gottlieb Altenburg he ensured an enduring reputation for
himself.
Carl Theodor Gier (*9 November † 10 November 1856)
Gier studied medicine and law and joined the German student
association Burschenschaft dedicated to liberation from Napoleonic
rule. In 1821 his hometown Mühlhausen appointed him a member of the
municipal council. Although he was its youngest member, he was
elected to be mayor in 1829.
Consistently advocating bourgeois-liberal ideas, he joined the
Frankfurt National Assembly and opposed Prussian reactionary
forces. Because of this, he was suspended as mayor by the king in
1849. He was re-elected in 1856, the king did not approve.
Friedrich August Stüler (*28 January 1800 † March 1865)
After technical training and construction work Stüler passed his
exam for the title of Master Builder with distinction. Promoted by
the famous Prussian architect and designer Karl Friedrich Schinkel
he completed his studies and became an architect. His outstanding
skills as well as his contacts to Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of
Prussia, were the base for a successful career - 1829 building
supervisor at the court, 1831 Court Building Counsellor and
director of the committee in charge of the construction of the
royal palace, 1842 "Court Architect". Among his masterworks are the
buildings of the Academy of Science in Budapest and in Berlin the
New Museum, the National Gallery and the New Synagogue (co-designed
by Knoblauch), the National Museum of Stockholm and the
Hohenzollern Castle.
Johann August Roebling (*12 June 1806 † 22 June 1869)
Roebling studied engineering and architecture, he had close
contacts to Friedrich August Stüler, his fellow countryman from
Mühlhausen. He attended lectures given by the philosopher Hegel
before he went to work as a civil servant for the Prussian state
authorities for a couple of years. Not seeing any career
advancement for himself he emigrated into the USA in 1831.
There he could successfully use his special skills in the rapidly
growing field of public engineering and transport projects. His
invention of the wire rope suspension bridge made it possible to
build connections and spans stronger than any seen up to that time.
The bridge across the Niagara Falls (1855; 458 m span) and finally
Brooklyn Bridge (1883, 487 m span). He died in 1869 after an
accident. His son Washington finished the Brooklyn Bridge in New
York.
Erika Riemann (* 25 December 1930)
The author Erika Riemann - born in Mühlhausen in 1930 - describes
in her book "Die Schleife an Stalin’s Bart" eight agonising years
of her youth between 1945 and 1954 when she was imprisoned behind
thick walls.
Her crime: She defaced a big portrait of Josef Stalin which hang in
the newly opened school in Brückenstraße in Mühlhausen by drawing a
bow on his moustache.
For many years Erika Riemann was reluctant to share her experiences
in the prisons of Sachsenhausen, Bautzen and Hoheneck publically -
but eventually she felt compelled to tell her story.
Sights
Historical Weir System with Raven Tower and Hospital Tower
Mühlhausen is one of the few cities with a preserved and almost
complete city wall. The 2750 m long building with its defence
towers was constructed in the 13th century. From the Inner Ladies
Gate the fortification is accessible for about 330m. You can
discover interesting museum attractions and from the visitors’
platform of the Raven Tower you can enjoy a marvellous view over
the city and its surroundings.
Church of St. Mary – Müntzer memorial place
St. Mary's Church is the second-biggest hall church in Thuringia
after the Erfurt Cathedral and has always played an important role
in the history of the town. During mediaeval times it was the
location where important decisions of imperial jurisdiction were
proclaimed. It was the place where Thomas Müntzer preached during
the German Peasants' War. Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata at the
election of the city councillors was performed for the first time
and many other important political acts had been carried out. Today
it is used as Müntzer memorial, as a venue of art and culture, a
stage for music performances and as place of religious life.
Peasants’ War Museum (Kornmarktkirche)
The former monastery Church of the Holy Cross, located at Kornmarkt
Square, is a typical mendicant order church with a plain and
well-proportioned architecture. After its secularisation in 1802 it
was used as granary and as the weighing station of the city, it
later changed into dwellings and office rooms. The church has
received its present appearance and reputation only since its
restoration from 1973 till 1975. Today it shows an exhibition which
informs about process, climax and after – effects of the German
Peasants’ war, it is also used for special events, such as musical
performances.
Town Hall
Its main part dates back to around 1300. Extended by Gothic,
Renaissance and Baroque elements, the town hall represents a unique
building ensemble right in the middle of the town. The hall and the
salon with its Gothic wall paintings are worth seeing. Furthermore
the imperial – free city archive of 1614 is located in this
imposing building.
Synagogue
A synagogue in Mühlhausen was first mentioned in 1380. The current
synagogue building of 1841/1842 was violated on November the 9th in
1938. After the war, it was transferred to the Jewish
Landesgemeinde Thuringia. After overall restoration that began in
1987, the synagogue was re-consecrated in 1998. The church and
parish buildings are meeting places with an exhibition and library.
All Saint’s church – museum gallery
It is the smallest of the Mühlhausen medieval parish churches. The
inhabitants of Mühlhausen were forced to build this church
(completed in 1287) as atonement for the destruction of the castle
chapel. It was a very plain church and its hall even did not have a
choir. It was then extended in the 14th century by displacing a
wall to the north and thus integrating the steeple into it. In 1525
the church was mentioned in a document that reported the revolting
citizens of Mühlhausen, lead by Thomas Müntzer. In 1689 the church
was destroyed by a fire and the new built church in Baroque style
had an extended steeple. Restoration between 1885 and 1989 created
an appealing church which can be used for exhibitions. A bronze
statue of Heinrich Pfeiffer is situated in front of the church.
Museum at Lindenbühl
The Neo-Renaissance building by the city wall provides information
about town history of Mühlhausen and about nature issues of the
region in permanent and special exhibitions.
Divi Blasii Church
The Church of St. Blasius is the main church in Mühlhausen's
district Unterstadt. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries by
the German Order (Deutscher Orden) and it was the first big church
in Gothic style in central Germany. Elements of its architectural
style are the same as those used in French cathedrals and thus
reveal that it once may have been used as the bishopric seat of
Kristan von Samland, who had initiated the building of a new church
there. Later, in 1707/1708, Johann Sebastian Bach worked in the
church as organist. Its new organ, built in 1959, followed Bach's
organ arrangements.
