Back to the Middle Ages

Sandy Altmann & Michelle Mittag

The new year has begun and with it comes the 875th anniversary of the city of Chemnitz. The city was founded in the Middle Ages. Traces of this period are not immediately recognisable, but they do exist. The group involved in the project "Think along, think! Medieval reception in your city" is focussing on the medieval appearance of the city. Sandy Altmann and Michelle Mittag have been supporting the project as student assistants for two years and are reporting on the city's medieval secrets in the anniversary year that has just begun.

What exactly is the project about?
Sandy Altmann: The project is about looking at medieval Chemnitz. What traces still exist? The reception is particularly important here, i.e. what and how does the population of Chemnitz still perceive this period - and why? We investigated all of these questions together with pupils from Einsiedel and Frankenberg grammar schools.
Michelle Mittag: We also wanted to give the participating pupils an insight into academic work, e.g. citation techniques. We supported the pupils in the preparation of their Complex or Special Learning Achievements.

Who else is involved in the project?
Sandy Altmann: The project was initiated by Prof. Dr Martin Clauss, Prof. Dr Christoph Fasbender and Dr Gesine Mierke from Chemnitz University of Technology as part of a call for proposals from the Robert Bosch Foundation. In addition to the smac Archaeology Museum and the Schloßberg Museum, the cooperation partners also include Chemnitz University of Technology with the Chair of German Literature and Language History of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, the Chair of Europe in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period and the Centre for Teacher Training.

How did you get involved in the project?
Sandy Altmann: I've been involved right from the start and was specifically asked by Dr Gesine Mierke. I'm studying for a Master's degree in German Studies and come from Frankenberg. So accompanying the pupils at Frankenberg grammar school was a very good fit for me. I organised workshops on scientific work there and supported the entire public relations work.
Michelle Mittag: I only joined a little later. As I was studying European history, the project was exactly in my area of interest. When I was at school, I wrote a special learning achievement on a historical topic myself and was therefore able to give the students lots of tips. For example, I did some additional work such as compiling bibliographies or researching literature.

What is the aim of the project?
Michelle Mittag: A homepage is being created on which all the information and results of the students' work will be published or have already been published. This means that anyone who is interested can view the research results. (Editor's note: The first results can be found on the following page: www.chemnitz-im-mittelalter.tu-chemnitz.de)
Sandy Altmann: The students also learnt a lot from the project. The workshops gave them their first insights into academic work and dealing with sources. They were also able to apply this to their own final theses. The project also aims to broaden their perspective on the medieval history of the city.

It is well known that the Red Tower was the inspiration for the shape of the dishwasher detergent "fit". What is less well known is that the building is one of the oldest structures from the medieval cityscape. A stroll through Chemnitz city centre reveals even more evidence from the Middle Ages. The Chemnitz Roland adorns the façade of the New Town Hall and the Judith Lucretia Portal is now mainly used as a wedding backdrop. The fact that a section of the famous Way of St James, which ends in Santiago de Compostella, also leads through Chemnitz can be recognised in various places in the Chemnitz cityscape. The Benedictine monastery, now known as the Schloßbergmuseum, is also a medieval treasure of the city and the venue for the final presentation of the project. The pupils and project participants will present their results on Wednesday 17 January at 2 pm.

How did you approach the collaboration with the pupils? Did the young people already know anything about medieval Chemnitz?
Sandy Altmann: There are always a few history geniuses who have already researched the subject themselves. So there was some prior knowledge here and there, but we also provided a lot of input. The pupils then turned to the topics according to their interests. On the one hand, we brought along texts, and on the other, the pupils themselves went on a search in the city archives.
Michelle Mittag: It was remarkable that the pupils did the project voluntarily alongside their six to eight lessons at school. In Frankenberg, the project was carried out in the form of a work group. The pupils in Einsiedel, on the other hand, did the project completely voluntarily alongside their regular lessons. Of course, we had to do some motivational work here and there, but that's only understandable with a full timetable.

What was Chemnitz like in the Middle Ages? What characterised the city?
Sandy Altmann: For example, the Judith Lucretia Portal is used very differently today than it was back then. Nowadays, it is particularly popular with wedding couples. Through interviews with passers-by on the street, the students found out that the medieval remains are hardly recognised or can be identified.
Michelle Mittag: Similar findings were made about the Roland statue at the New Town Hall. The evaluation of the survey showed - although of course it is not possible to generalise - that the Roland figure was generally better known to the older population than the young.
Sandy Altmann: Back then, these buildings and figures had a different meaning and symbolic content than they do today, such as power, market rights and defence of the city. They were therefore perceived and understood differently by the population.

How has your perception of the city changed as a result of the project?
Sandy Altmann: Chemnitz is not a representative medieval city. But the project has changed my perspective on the city. The Red Tower was often associated with the "Galerie Roter Turm" shopping centre. But I only really got to know the medieval background through the project.
Michelle Mittag: By dealing with the selected project themes, I now perceive the cityscape differently. I take a more differentiated approach to the city and keep rediscovering it.

Where do you see the city in 2025?
Michelle Mittag: Chemnitz should continue to grow, remain diverse and colourful.
Sandy Altmann: In terms of the university in particular, the university's reach should be extended. The new university library building is a good sign in the right direction.
Michelle Mittag: Exactly. However, the humanities should also be given more space and importance and be promoted.
Sandy Altmann: I would like to see more support for cultural aspects.