Dating back to 1521, the \u00d6lberg in Nikolausstra\u00dfe holds a unique position in W\u00fcrzburg’s history. This is not just a collection of statues. It is a journey through time.
The \u00d6lberg depicts Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper. This scene is described in three Gospels. The sculptures you see now are well-preserved copies. They were cast around 1907.
But what happened to the originals? The original statues were given to the Fr\u00e4nkisches Luitpoldmuseum on July 3, 1907. They were given “gegen Abguss” or in exchange for a cast. These originals came from the \u00d6lberg of the Burkarder Church.
Tilman Riemenschneider and his workshop created the originals. It is said that Riemenschneider himself only crafted the figure of Jakobus. His assistant Hans Braun created Johannes and Petrus. Look closely at Petrus’ cloak. You might spot Braun’s monogram “HB”.
The \u00d6lberg suffered damage. It happened either during the Peasants’ War in 1525 or in the 1830s. The remains were then placed in a vineyard. This vineyard was on the path to the K\u00e4ppele.
Before 1945, a star-shaped housing sat above the Johannes figure. Behind a red pane, an eternal light always burned. It was set into the tuff stone.
In 1959, a private donor restored the \u00d6lberg. This was done due to a vow. At that time, it still had Baroque additions. These additions included the praying Christ and comforting angel.
Now, observe the arrangement. The figures stand on a hill made of natural stones. It is in a corner of a wall. Only three sleeping disciples remain from the original \u00d6lberg group. Jakobus leans against a hill on the left. Johannes lies on the ground in the middle. Petrus sits on the right. He holds a sword. Above them are Jesus praying and a comforting angel. The \u00d6lberg serves as a reminder of W\u00fcrzburg’s artistic past. It also symbolizes faith. It shows resilience through centuries of change.