Inscriptions of Münster

Immunity Wall

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Near the inscription related to the castle of the Münster cathedral there is another plaque speaking of the medieval "immunity" that once existed round the cathedral and its castle.

Photo Münster: cathedral

Cathedral

Photos: Hans-Rudolf Hower, 2007

Photo Münster: Inscription on the medieval immunity wall

Inscription

Original Text (in German)

Immunitätsmauer

Erbaut um 1270 / 80 auf der Mitte der ehemaligen Grabens der Domburg als Vertragsgrenze zwischen dem Rechtsbereich des Domes (= Immunität) und der Bürgerstadt.

Translation

Immunity Wall

Built in about 1270 / 80 on the middle of the former moat of the cathedral's castle as contract border between the jurisdictional area of the cathedral (= immunity) and the civil city.

Comment

Medieval immunities granted by the relevant sovereign began to exist in the early seventh century. They were - mostly ecclesiastic - properties that were not subject to civil law, and state agents were not allowed to enter them. In many cases - as shown here in Münster - an "immunity wall" delimited the concerned property.

A rest of those medieval immunity arrangements still exists as far as the right of asylum in churches is concerned.

See also Castle of the Cathedral.

Bibliography

Author / Title / Subject	Notes	Info / Purchase
Münster. A City Guide: Map of the City, surrounding maps, bus map	A city guide to Münster (to be published in 2012).	amazon.de/at: English. amazon.es: --- amazon.fr: English. amazon.it: ---
Journey through North Rhine-Westphalia	A specialized guide to North Rhine-Westphalia.	amazon.de/at: English. amazon.es: English. amazon.fr: English. amazon.it: English.
Barbara H. Rosenwein, Negotiating Space	Subtitle: Power, Restraint, and Privileges of Immunity in Early Medieval Europe. This indicates the importance of this book for the interpretation of the inscription described here.	amazon.de/at: English. amazon.es: English. amazon.fr: English. amazon.it: English.

Internet

Be aware of our legal reservation concerning any Internet reference.

Address / Owner	Content / Subjects
Municipality of Münster	Official site (in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish).
City map of Münster By Google Maps.	Zoomable city map of Münster.
Münster In the English Wikipedia.	Detailed encyclopaedic article on the city of Münster.
North Rhine-Westphalia In the English Wikipedia.	Detailed encyclopaedic article on the land of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Province of Westphalia In the English Wikipedia.	Detailed encyclopaedic article on the historical Province of Westphalia.
Münster (region) In the English Wikipedia.	Detailed encyclopaedic article on the region (Regierungsbezirk) of Münster.

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Arrival by Public Transport

For the arrival in Münster, see Inscriptions of Münster.

Exiting the Münster railway station, go straight ahead taking the Windhorststraße, then Stubengasse and H.-Brüningstraße. At the end take the Salzstraße to the left, turn right at its end and turn left into the Domgasse, where you will see the Domburg plaque at a little distance on your right.

Indications concerning the arrival correspond to our personal knowledge or even experience, but we cannot assume any responsibility for their rightness. When you are reading this page, things may have changed in reality.

Hans-Rudolf Hower, 2012

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Last updated: April 4, 2016