Zellerau

What secrets does Zellerau hold? Würzburg’s fourth largest district, Zellerau, stretches northwest of the Mainviertel, nestled between the Main River and Höchberger Straße. Zellerau’s story is deeply intertwined with its military past. The area’s history begins long before its military associations, however. Records indicate that in 1128, Norbert of Xanten, founder of the Premonstratensian Order, gathered funds to establish Oberzell Monastery in Zellerau. Later, in 1252/53, Bishop Hermann von Lobdeburg founded Himmelspforten Monastery on the banks of the Main, further enriching Zellerau’s religious landscape. Zellerau wasn’t just a place of spiritual contemplation. Between 1711 and 1719, three agricultural estates were built within Zellerau: Gut Moschee, Gut Moskau, and Gut Talavera. These estates, particularly Gut Moschee with its architecturally fashionable name, became popular destinations. The name Zellerau itself is often divided into “lower” and “upper” sections, referring to the northern and southern parts respectively. The lower Zellerau developed a reputation as a working-class neighborhood, particularly after the departure of soldiers led to the construction of social housing. The upper Zellerau, above Frankfurter Straße, attracted a more middle-class population. Zellerau’s military history significantly shaped its development. Beginning in 1879, the Royal Bavarian Army built the Neue Infanterie Kaserne, also known as the “Neuner Kaserne,” for the ninth infantry regiment. This sprawling complex occupied the northern Mainviertel, extending from Weißenburgstraße to Fasbenderstraße. It even encompassed parts of Gut Talavera. Today, the Neunerplatz, with its Neuner-Denkmal, serves as a reminder of this military presence. The arrival of the military brought an influx of soldiers and their families, spurring the need for housing in Zellerau. In the 1930s, the city of Würzburg addressed this demand by building approximately 450 apartments. Even Koenig & Bauer, the renowned printing press manufacturer established in Oberzell in 1817, constructed housing for its employees in the Hartmannstraße and Wredestraße areas within Zellerau. The growth of Zellerau continued, and the area saw further expansion of its military presence in the 20th century. The Neue Artilleriekaserne (Mainau-Kaserne) was built between 1906 and 1908, and later, in the 1930s, more barracks were constructed. Ironically, the departure of the American troops from the Hindenburg-Kaserne in the 1990s paved the way for the transformation of Zellerau’s central area. The city developed a framework plan with goals of creating a compact, integrated space, incorporating new residential areas, and even establishing a new “green center”. Zellerau continues to evolve. It’s a neighborhood where historical echoes blend with modern developments, creating a unique and fascinating district within Würzburg.