Imagine Bavaria’s landscape being meticulously mapped, and it all starts here with the Basispyramide. This seemingly simple stone structure holds a fascinating tale of precision, ambition, and a pivotal moment in Bavarian history. It marks the starting point of a baseline measured in 1801. This baseline was critical for surveying all of Bavaria.
The Basispyramide before you is one of two. Its partner stands in Aufkirchen. Together, they defined a line stretching 21,653.80 meters. That’s about 13.5 miles. This line was the foundation for creating detailed maps of Bavaria.
Picture land surveyors in 1801. They used interconnected wooden bars for measurement. They worked between August and November. Their calculations were remarkably accurate. Modern measurements show a deviation of only 70 centimeters. This shows their impressive skill.
Why was this Basispyramide so important? Following Bavaria’s defeat at Hohenlinden in 1800, Napoleon demanded accurate military maps. This led to the establishment of a mapping commission. Joseph von Utzschneider represented Bavaria.
After the French withdrew in 1801, Elector Max IV Joseph founded the Topographical Bureau. This was the precursor to Bavaria’s State Office for Surveying and Geoinformation. French General La Horie and Chief de Bataillon Ch. Bonne led the bureau. Their mission was to create suitable maps for topography and cadastral purposes.
The line connecting the northern tower of Munich’s Frauenkirche and Aufkirchen’s church tower was crucial. The Basispyramide marks the beginning. It sits east of Oberföhring.
Constructed from tuff stone, the Basispyramide has a niche. This niche once housed the surveying base. Small steel doors secured it. You can still see these doors today.
Look closely at the base. Notice the Untersberg marble plaques. The southwest side inscription reads, “Beginning of the baseline measured between Munich and Aufkirchen in the year 1801.” The northeast side says, “META BASEOS AUSPICIIS MAXIMILIANI IV. BOI: DUC: ELECT: ANNO MDCCCI DIMENSAE.”
Interestingly, the surveyors used five bars on adjustable wooden stands. They crossed meadows, moors, streams, and ditches. They calculated remaining distances using triangulation. The baseline became known as the “Base de la Goldach.” It was the longest baseline in land surveying history until 1940.
In 2017, the Basispyramide was difficult to access. It was hidden in the traffic of the Föhringer Ring. The municipality of Unterföhring decided to improve access. They unveiled an information panel in collaboration with the LDBV. The municipality also built a pedestrian and bicycle path for better access.
The Basispyramide stands as a testament to Bavarian ingenuity. It symbolizes the birth of modern land surveying in the region. Take a moment to appreciate the history beneath your feet. The Basispyramide connects us to the past. It reminds us of the dedication required to map a kingdom.