Alt St. Alban: Access to the historic memorial should be expanded!

Alt St. Alban: Access to the historic memorial should be expanded!

Köln, Deutschland - The debate about the accessibility of the Alt St. Alban memorial in Cologne picks up speed. Bernhard Seiger, the city superintendent of the Evangelical Church Association of Cologne and region, would like to make the place more accessible for grief and memory. After all, Alt St. Alban, the ruin of a former parish church, is not only a historicality, but also an important memorial.

A look at history shows that the Church of Alt St. Alban, which was consecrated in 1959 by Federal President Theodor Heuss as a memorial for the victims of war, terrorism and tyranny, has been an important memorial for the dead of the world wars since its profanation. However, access to the memorial is currently severely restricted. It is only open for two to four hours on the Memorial Day. Seiger provides action here and suggests that Alt St. Alban next year and on specific memorial days, such as May 8th and the day of the open monument, to open throughout. This would create a place for grief and compassion, which is also accessible to people without specific religious faith, as reported on KStA.de

a place of memories

The ruins of Alt St. Alban, which lies between the Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Gürzenich, dates from the 12th century and has experienced some gentle but concise changes over the centuries. Especially the tower from 1494 and the facade from 1896 are worth mentioning. The Sankt-Bruder-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 "grieving pair of parents" by Käthe Kollwitz, while the original is set up in Belgium.

Unfortunately, the memorial is currently not open to the public. The memorials are hidden behind bars so that people can only catch a limited look. This could change if the support of Mayor Henriette Reker and the head of culture continues. However, concerns about monument protection and the dignity of the place must be taken seriously. A proposal stipulates that up to 100 people can enter the site at certain times in order to protect the balance between accessibility and respect for the memories of the victims.

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 an understanding of the past awake. These places remind us of the atrocities of National Socialism and the hundreds of thousands of people who suffered during this dark time. Memorials are crucial to protect humanity and to sensitize future generations. bpb.de emphasizes that such seasons also warn us of the error of history.

The plans for a better accessibility of Alt St. Alban show that the desire for memory and grief is a deeply anchored need in society. With the desired opening, this memorial could be commemorated for a lively place for grief, compassion and common. It remains to be seen how the conversations with the city managers develop and whether the access to the memorial can ultimately be significantly improved.