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.
Recent Images
Historical Images
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
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Accomodation
Further information:
Stadt Bludenz: www.vorarlberg-alpenregion.at/bludenz
Land Vorarlberg: www.vorarlberg.travel
Public Transport
Further information:
ÖBB: www.oebb.at
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Further information sources
Publication:
Ort – Erinnerung – Denkmal. Relikte des Ersten Weltkriegs. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Kunst und Denkmalpflege, Heft 3/4 (2015).
Other heritage sites nearby
Museums Private Collections
No information available.
War memorial in Bludenz, Vorarlberg, Austria
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