Speckmannshof in Amberg, Bavaria, Germany — Central Europe

Franz-Xaver von Schönwerth

Photographed by James Hulse, February 19, 2024

1. Franz-Xaver von Schönwerth Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

German:
Königlich Bayerischer Ministerialrat
Geboren in Amberg Am 10.Juli 1810
Gestorben in München Am 24.Mai 1886

Bekanntester Oberpfälzer Volkskundler

Das Rockenfüssl In dem turm am henkerbergl soll ein armes mädchen gewohnt, und trotzig das gebot übertreten haben: man soll am freitag nicht singen, am samstag nicht spinnen, am sonntag die erste messe nicht verschlafen. Und weil sie es im alter wie in der jugend trieb und boshaft dem alten gesetz zuwider gehandelt hat, wurde ihr fuss in einen rockenfuss umgestaltet und sie musste nach ihrem tode umherwandern.

Es ist klein, mit rundem reifrock und hat zwei hühnerfüsse, einen sehr grossen kopf, darauf ein dreispitz sitzt. Es springt, statt zu gehen. Oft zeigt es sich auf der amberger hollerwiese.

Franz-Xaver von Schönwerth

English Translation:
Royal Bavarian Ministerial Council
Born in Amberg on July 10, 1810
Died in Munich on May 24, 1886

Best-known Upper Palatinate Folklorist

The Distaff A poor girl is said to have lived in the tower on Henkerbergl and defiantly violated the commandment: you shouldn't sing on Friday, you shouldn't spin on Saturday, and you shouldn't sleep through the first mass on Sunday. And because she did it in her old age as well as in her youth and maliciously acted contrary to the old law, her foot was transformed into a distaff foot and she had to wander around after her death.

It is small, with a round hoop skirt and has two chicken feet, a very large head with a tricorn hat sitting on it. It jumps instead of walking. It often shows up on the Amberg holler meadow.

Franz Xavier von Schönwerth

Erected 2009

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by Gestiftet Vom and Rotary-Club Amberg - 975 Years of Amberg-2009.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 24, 1886.

Location. 49° 26.732′ N, 11° 51.321′ E. Marker is in Amberg, Bayern (Bavaria). It is in Speckmannshof. It is on Deutsche Schulgasse just east of Löwenwirtsgäßchen, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located on the southeast side of the church wall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Deutsche Schulgasse 4, Amberg BY 92224, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

Central Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Amberger Kulturstadel (a few steps from this marker); Schulkirche / School Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Stadttheater / Town Theatre (within shouting

The Franz-Xaver von Schönwerth Marker on the exterior south wall of the school church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, February 19, 2024

2. The Franz-Xaver von Schönwerth Marker on the exterior south wall of the school church

distance of this marker); Erna Strauss (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Karl Haymann (about 120 meters away); Fanny Haymann (about 120 meters away); Alte Veste / Old Fortress (about 150 meters away); Ratstrinkstube / Council Taproom (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amberg.

Also see . . . Franz Xaver von Schönwerth. Wikipedia

Schönwerth recorded legends, fairytales, comic stories, children's games, nursery rhymes, children's songs and proverbs. He also observed how people lived, describing the everyday life of peasants, their customs and their traditional costumes. Grimm wrote in a review: "Nowhere in the whole of Germany has anyone collected more circumspectly, more completely, or leaving so few traces." His questionnaires and the care with which he recorded the dialect of responses served as models as folklore collecting became more objective and scientific; Grimm, with whom he corresponded from 1858 on, recommended his methods in a letter to Karl Julius Schröer and told the king that Schönwerth was the only person who could continue his and his brother's work after
Photographed by James Hulse, February 19, 2024

3. The view of the Franz-Xaver von Schönwerth Marker along the street
their deaths. Unlike Grimm, Schönwerth did not seek a unified picture of Germanic folk culture and its pre-Christian origins, but focussed on the distinct features of the Upper Palatinate; he held a now discredited view that the regional dialect showed close parallels to Gothic.

(Submitted on March 6, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 6, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.