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 Aerial view of Reichenau Island | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Constance |
| Coordinates | 47°41′40″N9°3′45″E / 47.69444°N 9.06250°E /47.69444; 9.06250 |
| Area | 4.3 km2 (1.7 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Germany | |
| State | Baden-Württemberg |
| District | Freiburg |
| Additional information | |
| Official website | www.reichenau.de |
| Official name | Monastic Island of Reichenau |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 2000(24thsession) |
| Reference no. | 974 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
Reichenau Island[a] (German:[ˈʁaɪçənaʊ]) is an island inLake Constance inSouthern Germany. It lies almost due west of the city ofKonstanz, between theGnadensee and theUntersee, two parts of Lake Constance. With a total land surface of 4.3 km2 (1.7 sq mi) and a circumference of 11 km (6.8 mi), the island is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) long and 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide at its greatest extent. The highest point, the Hochwart, stands some 43 m (141 ft) above the lake surface and 438.7 m (1,439 ft) above mean sea level.
Reichenau is connected to the mainland by acauseway, completed in 1838, which is intersected between the ruins of Schopflen Castle and the eastern end of Reichenau Island by a 10-metre-wide (33 ft) and 95-metre-long (312 ft) waterway, the Bruckgraben. A low road bridge allows the passage of ordinary boats but not of sailing-boats.
Reichenau Abbey, founded on the island by bishopPirmin in 724, quickly developed into an influential religious, cultural, and intellectual center.[1] Because of its historical importance and the exceptional quality of the architecture and artwork found in the island's three churches and abbey, Reichenau was declared aWorld Heritage Site in 2000.[2]
Although people occupied Reichenau in theBronze Age andIron Age, archeological evidence suggests that Reichenau was abandoned during the Roman era.[3] It remained uninhabited until 724, when themonkPirmin received support from the Carolingian rulerCharles Martel to build a monastery on the island.[1] The first monastery, at Mittelzel, was wooden, although it was replaced by a stone building by 746.[4] In the early 9th century, under the patronage of theCarolingian dynasty andOttonian dynasty, the community flourished. In 816 the monastery church of the by-then abbey, was rebuilt in a cruciformbasilica style, and churches dedicated to theVirgin andSaint Mark were consecrated.[1] Relics ofSt. Mark arrived at the abbey in the mid-9th century. Two further churches were built on the island consecrated to SaintsPeter andPaul (in 799) and toSaint George (in 896).[4]
The abbey'sbailiff was housed in a two-storey stone building to which two more storeys oftimber framing were added in the 14th century, one of the oldest timber-frame buildings in southern Germany. It is today used as a museum of local history.[1]
The monastic community of the abbey produced several influential poets and authors, such asWalafrid Strabo (who served as abbot) and scholars such asHermann of Reichenau and AbbotReginbert, as well as artists.[1] The famous artworks of Reichenau include (in the church of St George) theOttonian murals of miracles of Christ, unique survivals from the 10th century.[4][1] ThePlan of St. Gall, the only surviving architectural drawing from the Middle Ages, may also have been created on the island.[1] Among the abbey's far-flung landholdings wasReichenau, a village on the upper Rhine in themunicipality ofTamins in the canton ofGraubünden, Switzerland, named for the abbey.
In the 16th century, the territory of thePrince-Bishopric of Constance was extended to include Reichenau, and as a result the influence of the abbey waned. During thesecularization of the Prince-Bishopric of Constance in 1803, many of the smaller chapels on the island were demolished.[4] In addition, the manuscripts and archives held in the abbey were given to Karlsruhe and the University of Heidelberg library and the surrounding farms were parceled and sold.
Today the island is also famous for its vegetable farms. TheWollmatinger Ried next to the island is a large nature reserve, awetland area of reeds, which is used by many birds as a stopover during their annual migration.
Reichenau (Baden) is a railway station on theHigh Rhine Railway line. It is served by regional trains toKonstanz andSingen (Hohentwiel), viaRadolfzell.
Reichenau has alanding stage. Between spring and autumn, theURh offers regular boat services on theHigh Rhine andUntersee betweenSchaffhausen andKreuzlingen, viaKonstanz.
_auf_der_Insel_Reichenau_im_Bodensee.jpg)
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)."Reichenau".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.| Inhabited |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Uninhabited | ||
| Former | ||
