World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

War memorial in Bludenz, Vorarlberg, Austria

In 1928 a war memorial was erected in Bludenz, to the east of the old parish church of Hl. Laurentius and slightly below it, for soldiers who fell in World War One. Alfons Fritz (1900–1933), an important Vorarlberg architect during the period between the wars, designed and planned the memorial. Because of this architect's language of design the memorial pioneers a new form of commemorative culture.

Austria, Vorarlberg

Type of WWI-heritage

  • War monument

Dimensions

No information available.

State of repair/preservation

The memorial was refurbished in 2017.

Historical WWI Context

In 1928 a war memorial was erected to the east of the old parish church of Hl. Laurentius for soldiers who had fallen in World War One. Alfons Fritz (1900–1933), an important Vorarlberg architect during the period between the wars, was responsible for designing and planning the memorial. His design was part of the winning project of an architectural competition held in 1927. Alfons Fritz intended the "Gitzibühel" at the foot of the Laurentius Church to be the location of the memorial that he intended to be accessible.

The site is entered via a wrought iron gate, and a spiral stone staircase leads to the "Ehrenhof" [Courtyard of Honour] as Alfons Fritz called it, a rotunda with refectory and simple cross. Here outdoor mass can also be held. Further steps along the late mediaeval town fortifications head toward a dual-winged wrought iron gate that leads into the crypt. The walls of the crypt are inscribed with the names of fallen soldiers and a simple sarcophagus of red marble is located in the centre. The crypt is exited on the rear via further steps that can also be closed with a wrought iron gate. The special feature of the memorial is its style of design. Compared to many other war memorials from the same period, the Bludenz memorial dispenses with the typically, usually heroic attributes such as eagles and lions; the site also depicts no dying, kneeling or dead soldiers with weapons and steel helmets.

State of legal protection

The war memorial is not heritage-protected.

Owner

The municipal borough of Bludenz is the owner of the site and takes care of its upkeep.

Kind of cultural use of WWI

No touristic use.

Opening

The monument is open to the public.

Entrance Fee

The war memorial is publicly accessible.

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Further information:

Stadt Bludenz:www.vorarlberg-alpenregion.at/bludenz, www.bludenz.at
Stadt Bregenz: www.bregenz.travel, www.bregenz.at
Stadt Feldkirch: www.feldkirch.travel

 

Accomodation

Further information:

Stadt Bludenz: www.vorarlberg-alpenregion.at/bludenz
Land Vorarlberg: www.vorarlberg.travel

 

Public Transport

Further information:
ÖBB: www.oebb.at

 

Further information sources

Publication:

Ort – Erinnerung – Denkmal. Relikte des Ersten Weltkriegs. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Kunst und Denkmalpflege, Heft 3/4 (2015).

Museums Private Collections

No information available.

Location

Back to list