“Sankt Urban, lieber Herr, mach die Trauben schwer.” This old saying echoes as we gather before the Urbani-Marterl. It translates to “Saint Urban, dear Lord, make the grapes heavy.” The Urbani-Marterl stands as a testament to wine tradition. It also reminds us of a time of conflict.
This wayside shrine commemorates those who fell near a vineyard in April 1945. The inscription reads “Gedenket der im April 1945 am Weinberg Gefallenen”. This translates to “Remember those who fell in April 1945 at the vineyard”. The Urbani-Marterl was erected around 1960.
But who exactly is Saint Urban? The most well-known wine patron, Urban, is actually three different people. There was Pope Urban I. He lived from 221 to 230. He decreed that Mass be celebrated with gold or silver chalices. Then there was Bishop Urban of Langres. Around 450, he hid from his enemies in a vineyard. Finally, there was a third Urban. He lived at the beginning of the 7th century in the German Neckar region. He taught the people there about wine growing.
The custom surrounding Urban is diverse. People still like to place statues of him in vineyards and wine cellars. If the saint failed as a weather god, the people got angry. They showed their displeasure. They poured water over statues of the saint. They even threw figures of the saint into the well.
Winemaker sayings clearly express the believers’ threat. “Saint Urban, dear Lord, make the grapes heavy. If you are wet, it brings nothing into the barrel. You yourself must go into the wet.”
The Urbani-Marterl stands as a place of remembrance. It is also a reminder of the importance of wine in this region. Consider the history imbued in this spot. Think about those who worked the vineyards. Remember those who lost their lives during the war. The Urbani-Marterl links tradition. It also links remembrance and the enduring spirit of this community.