Alt St. Alban: Access to the historical memorial is to be expanded!

Alt St. Alban: Access to the historical memorial is to be expanded!

The debate about the accessibility of the Alt St. Alban memorial in Cologne is gaining momentum. Bernhard Seiger, the city superintendent of the Protestant Church Association of Cologne and the region, would like to make the place more accessible for mourning and remembrance. After all, Alt St. Alban, the ruins of a former parish church, is not only steeped in history, but also an important memorial site.

A look at history shows that the Alt St. Alban church, which was consecrated by Federal President Theodor Heuss in 1959 as a memorial to the victims of war, terror and tyranny, has been an important memorial to the dead of the world wars since it was profaned. But access to the memorial is currently severely restricted. It is only open for two to four hours on Memorial Day. Seiger sees a need for action here and suggests opening Alt St. Alban weekly in the coming year and continuously on specific commemorative days, such as May 8th and Open Monument Day. This would create a place for grief and compassion that is also accessible to people without specific religious beliefs, as reported on ksta.de.

A place of memories

The Alt St. Alban ruins, which lie between the Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Gürzenich, date back to the 12th century and have undergone some gentle but significant transformations over the centuries. The tower from 1494 and the facade from 1896 are particularly worth mentioning. The Saint Brother Konrad Chapel, which was completed in 1960 and consecrated in 1964, also contributes to the emotional depth of the place. Among other things, there is a copy of the sculpture “Mourning Parents” by Käthe Kollwitz, while the original is installed in Belgium.

Unfortunately, the memorial is currently not open to the public. The memorials are hidden behind bars so people can only get a limited view. This could change if the support of Mayor Henriette Reker and the head of the cultural department continues to advance. However, concerns about heritage protection and the dignity of the site must be taken seriously. One proposal would allow up to 100 people to enter the site at certain times to maintain a balance between accessibility and respect for the victims' memories.

The role of memorials

The concern to make such memorials more accessible is of great importance in Germany. At a time when historical awareness is increasingly being put to the test, memorials help to keep the understanding of the past alive. These places remind us of the atrocities of Nazism and the hundreds of thousands of people who suffered during this dark time. Memorials are crucial to preserving humanity and raising awareness for future generations. bpb.de emphasizes that such places of remembrance also warn us against repeating the mistakes of history.

The plans for better accessibility of Alt St. Alban show that the desire for memory and mourning is a deeply rooted need in society. With the desired opening, this memorial site could become a lively place for mourning, compassion and shared remembrance. It remains to be seen how the discussions with city officials will develop and whether access to the memorial site can ultimately be significantly improved.