Altstadt in Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany — Central Europe
Lusamgärtchen
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Lusam Garden
Photographed by James Hulse, July 14, 2025
1. Lusamgärtchen / Lusam Garden Marker
Das Lusamgärtchen an der Nordseite der Neumünsterkirche lag einst inmitten des spätromanischen, in der zweiten Hälfte des 12. Jahrhunderts errichteten Kreuzganges des Kollegiatstifts Neumünster. Der allein erhaltene Nordflügel des Kreuzgangs war wohl schon vor der Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts vermauert worden, er wurde erst 1883 bei Abbrucharbeiten wieder entdeckt. Als herausragendes Beispiel staufischer Architektur und Plastik für die Berliner Museen erworben, verblieb er auf Intervention des Prinzregenten Luitpold von Bayern in Würzburg und wurde im Garten des ehemaligen Luitpold-Museums in der Maxstraße aufgestellt. Nach dessen Zerstörung im Jahr 1945 kehrte die Arkadenreihe 1953 in das Lusamgärtchen zurück. Die 16 Arkaden werden im Wechsel von Säulen und Pfeilern gestützt, von denen einige Reliefbilder tragen. Die Darstellungen des thronenden Christus und des segnenden heiligen Kilian zählen zu den frühesten Werken der Bildhauerei in Würzburg.
Der Kreuzgang diente weit über das Mittelalter hinaus als Begräbnisstätte. Auch der um 1230 verstorbene Dichter Walther von der Vogelweide wurde im Garten des Neumünster-Kreuzgangs
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Walther von der Vogelweide, der bedeutendste deutsche Lyriker des Mittelalters, bekannt vor allem durch seine Minnelieder und seine politische Spruchdichtung, hat wahrscheinlich seine letzten Lebensjahre in Würzburg verbracht. Gegen 1220 erhielt er von Kaiser Friedrich II. ein wohl in Würzburg oder dessen nächster Umgebung zu suchendes Lehen. Nach einem entbehrungsreichen Wanderleben verfügte er damit endlich über einen festen Wohnsitz mit geregelten Einkünften und jubelte:
Ich hân mîn lêhen, al die werlt, ich hân mîn lêhen. Nû enfürhte ich niht den hornunc an die zêhen ....
Ich habe mein Lehen! In alle Welt ruf' ich's hinaus: Ich habe mein Lehen!
Jetzt fürchte ich nicht mehr den Februarfrost an den Zehen
Seinem literarischen Ansehen war es wohl zu verdanken, dass Walther von
Photographed by James Hulse, July 14, 2025
2. Lusamgärtchen / Lusam Garden Marker
Bildunterschriften
(Foto #1) Belehnung durch den Bischof, Darstellung aus dem 16. Jahrhundert.
(Foto #2) Walther von der Vogelweide, Darstellung aus der Weingartner Liederhandschrift. Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart
(Foto #3) Text: Stadtarchiv Würzburg / Design: Congress • Tourismus • Wirtschaft
The Lusam Garden on the north side of Neumünster Church once lay in the center of the late Romanesque cloister of the Neumünster Collegiate Chapter, built in the second half of the 12th century. The only remaining north wing of the cloister was likely walled up before the middle of the 16th century; it was only rediscovered during demolition work in 1883. Acquired as an outstanding example of Hohenstaufen architecture and sculpture for the Berlin Museums, it remained in Würzburg at the intervention of Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria and was placed in the garden of the former Luitpold Museum on Maxstrasse. After its destruction in 1945,
Photographed by James Hulse, July 14, 2025
3. St. Kilian's Cathedral - Würzburger Dom
The cloister served as a burial site well beyond the Middle Ages. The poet Walther von der Vogelweide, who died around 1230, was also buried in the garden of the Neumünster cloister (in the grass house). His grave was probably only removed during construction work in the mid-18th century. The memorial stone, designed by Fried Heuler in 1930, bears the inscription by Hugo von Trimberg (c.1235 - c.1313): "Sir Walther von der Vogelweide, whoever forgets this would grieve me." According to legendary tradition, it was Walther's last wish that the birds be fed at his grave; hence, four bowls for grain and water are also embedded in the modern memorial stone.
Walther von der Vogelweide, the most important German lyric poet of the Middle Ages, known primarily for his love songs and political proverbials, likely spent his final years in Würzburg. Around 1220, he received a fief from Emperor Frederick II, likely in Würzburg or its immediate vicinity. After a life of privation and wandering, he finally had a permanent residence with a steady income and rejoiced:
I have my fief, all the world, I have my fief. Now I do not lead the little horn to the teeth ....
I have my fief! To the whole world I proclaim: I have my fief!
Now I no longer fear the February frost on my toes.
It was probably thanks to his literary reputation that Walther von der Vogelweide came into contact with the Neumünster Abbey. The burial in the cloister represented a special tribute to the famous poet. Walther's memory lived on in Neumünster. The collegiate scholaster and literary collector Michael de Leone (d. 1355) included a collection of Walther's songs in his house book.
Captions
(Photo #1) Investiture by the bishop, depiction from the 16th century.
(Photo #2) Walther von der Vogelweide, depiction from the Weingarten Song Manuscript, Württemberg State Library, Stuttgart.
(Photo #3) Text: Würzburg City Archives / Design: Congress Tourism • Business
Erected by Jubilee City of Würzburg.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 49° 47.644′ N, 9° 55.923′ E. Marker is in Würzburg, Bayern (Bavaria). It is in Altstadt. It is on Martinstraße just north of Kardinal-Döpfner-Platz, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located along the tunnel passage. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Martinstraße 19, Würzburg BY 97070, 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 Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lusam-Gärtlein (here, next to this marker); Der Kreuzgang des Neumuensterstiftes / The Cloister of the Neumuenster Seminary (a few steps from this marker); Schönbornkapelle / Schönborn Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Hof Guttenberg / St. Gallus House (within shouting distance of this marker); Hof Contus (within shouting distance of this marker); Städtische Galerie / Municipal Gallery (within shouting distance of this marker); Neumünster (within shouting distance of this marker); Domkirche St. Kilian / Cathedral of St. Kilian (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Würzburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 13, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
