In the shadow of the cathedral.

Below the Domtürme been robbed, murdered and committed adultery began: The Catholic Cologne was never really sacred. A leader takes horror fans with the chilling scenes Kölsche criminal history - including the most famous of the city Wurstbude counts.

 

"Just here the accident took nearly 450 years before his run," says Ilona Priebe, "in a fight." The guide sets out a dramatic pause, her index finger points in the direction of the WDR broadcasting building: "Tillmann Iserhäupt was one adversary on the head, drew his sword and pursued the enemy to enter the cathedral, where the protection against the attack, was looking for. In vain - badly injured and bleeding, he survived just Iserhäupts attack. "

So something is not liked, not even in medieval Cologne in the 16th Century. Soon even worse than the act itself: The cathedral was desecrated by - and to understand the point of the Cologne no fun, neither today nor in the Middle Ages. "The court was also Iserhäupt to death by the strand convicted, he remained only a chance," the audience hang on Priebe lips: "Namely, the, 'freigeheiratet' to be. If a citizen of integrity with him to marry, would have the chance of parole. Iserhäupt seemed And a true heart breaker to have been - right two ladies declared themselves ready. "

Perhaps he was a heart breaker, but certainly he was consistent: After looking at the ladies wishing marriage Iserhäupt announced that the death by the strand of the marriage bond with one of them would prefer. How it survived the diary the Cologne Ratsherrn Hermann von Weinsberg from the year 1562 - a treasure of the dramatic collapse of the Cologne city archives 2009 almost has survived intact.

Priebe has a grip on their audience, they hoot, such stories to come. "Sex & Crime," that's called the two leaders, or "Crime Tour", depending on what the emphasis is upon: Ilona Priebe is flexible, depending on the customer's wishes - for eight euros per person one is here. Around the Domtürme, between the shopping paradise of the High Street and the dome of the main railway station, between H & M and a Reibekuchenbude played in medieval Cologne the bloodiest scenes.

Groaning from the confessional

It is a hundred yards further, to the old main portal of the cathedral, on the right hand of God the door is blocked. "Whoever has committed adultery, the punishment is threatened by a dishonorable. Often he had with a stone and a candle in his hand about public humiliation that is incompatible with - where the stone is symbolic of stoning was the candle for the light was God." And why were some in front of the cathedral? Priebe raises the questioner a look at honesty: "It's very simple: They are in the cathedral adultery!"

Today skateboarder on the cathedral's art piece, armed with digital cameras Japanese tourist groups are by their guide on the heels. On the edge of the fountain on hot days sitting with shopping bags laden Holländer, their feet dangling into the cool water can. A peaceful image - chaste and clear than what happened here earlier.

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Most pilgrims were in the area of present-day cathedral fun with whores. But even the servants had to love to watch: Which two of the "fornication" was caught, was able to serve in the "House of the beautiful women" are obliged, then something like an urban brothel. Had access only unmarried men, widowers and priests. Priests? Again, the leader knows the right answer: "A monk, the vow of celibacy and chastity of the store, which only the priests of celibacy." The point is the public opinion: Some things change until now.

But sometimes it was not observed with the chastity not done, even clergymen have been convicted as a murderer. Just as Peter Joseph Schaefer, the pastor of the Church of St. Mary in copper alley, right at the yard Appel: 1803, he suggested the sisters Barbara and Catherine Ritter in the vicinity of the Rhine with a willow stick them down and slit the throat by then. In his confession, the priest, with one of the two "secretly married" to be received later and the financial demands of the sisters no longer satisfy them.

The Dompropst and pimps

Headline-grabbing was in February 1995 of a robbery Vortragekreuzes from the 19th Century. In bright daylight, right out of the Treasury, the favorite of Cardinal Meisner cross - imagine the times before! To the outrage to halt, turned to the church and police to Heinrich Schäfer, because of its impressive olfactory organ "Schäfers Naas referred. The uncrowned king of the underworld Cologne - recorded inter alia owing assault, robbery and pimping - then there was also direct: "Dat jeht nit!"

And so proclaimed "de Naas" via "Picture" and "Kölner Express" the unknown perpetrators: "Either the cross comes back or there is trouble!" A threat that moved - a short time later, the cross was a means of man over and found undamaged way back into the treasury. On the reward of 3000 marks a waiver of the underworld king, the supply of Dompropst Henrichs, a trade fair for him to read, he took on the other hand, with the words "It does my soul good black" to be happy. As a shepherd of the Church man then confessed that he "had a few ponies run," said later that he had misunderstood this: "I thought that thinks the turf in Weidenpesch."

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Priebe could still spend hours telling: From Cardinal Frings, who in the 1946 New Year's Eve speech Cologne citizens quasi stealing his blessing to the coal and food were - in Cologne's speech as "fringsen" below. From beheaded, in the time of the French people as the cathedral last had in mind before she lost her head. From the custom of the "free run" of Frankenstein Severinstor tower, where the inhabitants of the city with clubs in the hands of honor were: Who is up to the bakery Schmitz Backes created, was free. Also it is a Kölsche proverb arose: "You better still nit och Schmitz Backes to pass." For all Catholic Anekdötchen around Cologne that never really was a saint, enough time simply not enough.

Style can be the tour of the Cologne "Tatort" known snack bar from the year 1951 end. In real life you can find this directly on the chocolate museum, just for the film is on the other side the Rhine done: If the Commissioners Schenk and Ballauf a currywurst treat, must be in the background, after the cathedral to be seen - everything else would be in this city also a crime.