The ramparts of Frankfurt
Today, Frankfurt's city centre is bordered by a green belt that runs as a narrow park around the historic old town (or what is left of it). Its star-shaped jagged form follows the old course of the city's fortifications from the early modern period with its projecting pentagonal bastions and a water moat up to 10 metres wide in front.
In 1802, the city council decided to demolish the fortifications as they were militarily obsolete. Under Napoleon, the process was significantly accelerated in 1806. Frankfurt lost its status as a free imperial city and the new sovereign had the idea of a people's park developed, which was implemented by garden architect Sebastian Rinz. Today, the layout is somewhat reminiscent of English landscape gardens, if that is possible at just under 100 metres wide. In 1827, a law was passed, the Wallservitut, which prohibits building on the green strip to this day. Small exceptions like the "Alte Oper" confirm the rule. The search for a location for the new Theatre and (New) Opera House shows how difficult it still is today to break the age-old rule.
No comments:
Post a Comment