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A Secret in Bebenhausen
2012.05.18
The former 12thC Cistercian Monastery of Bebenhausen. In the background between the church and the tower gate can be seen the the former royal residence of the last king and queen.
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Bebenhausen - nestled deep in the forests of Schönbuch
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At the edge of the village
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The village center of Bebenhausen
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Ceiling of the former monastery refectory
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To the left is part of the former royal residence in the complex.
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Bebenhausen, a 45-minute drive south of Stuttgart, is a former Cistercian Monastery which later became the hunting residence of the dukes and later kings and queens of Württemberg. It is in a very small village nestled in the Schönbuch forests in the center of our state.
But there is a little secret here that is not known by most people from further afield: there was a queen who lived here until not so terribly long ago.
After the fall of the Württemberg monarchy in 1918, when the kingdom was fully incorporated into the new Weimar Republic, the elderly king and queen, due to their having been quite popular with the people, were invited to remain in the country on a stipend. They retired to their hunting lodge here at Bebenhausen where they died: King Wilhelm II in 1921, and Queen Charlotte in 1946.
Yesterday, Miss A. and I had the privilege of meeting a lovely older lady there, who grew up in the village and, like all the children in her youth, knew the queen. The queen, a relatively shy person, had no children of her own and spent her retirement years remaining in the village, doting on the children there. She gave a birthday tea in the "castle" (actually a very comfortable country home - nothing ostentatious or palace/castle-like whatsoever) for all the village children each year. At Christmas, she would come to the little school house and give gifts to the children.
The queen and villagers were familiar with each other. The lady told us of playing hide-and-seek on the grounds of the monastery/royal residence. Anytime the children encountered the queen, they had to bow or curtsey and say "Good day, Majesty". The lady said she didn't like to do that because then the queen would ask about their schooling and families and they had to be polite and answer. What kid, busy at play, would want to have to stand there and answer all those questions?! (She laughed.)
Queen Charlotte is remembered fondly even today by the old-timers in Bebenhausen. They are proud that their last queen chose to stay and live quietly amongst them in their little village after history swept away there little kingdom. And, just as typically for these local Swabians*, they don't feel a need to boast about it. It was just everyday life for them.
*Swabians - the people of southwestern Germany, who speak a dialect of the same name.
But there is a little secret here that is not known by most people from further afield: there was a queen who lived here until not so terribly long ago.
After the fall of the Württemberg monarchy in 1918, when the kingdom was fully incorporated into the new Weimar Republic, the elderly king and queen, due to their having been quite popular with the people, were invited to remain in the country on a stipend. They retired to their hunting lodge here at Bebenhausen where they died: King Wilhelm II in 1921, and Queen Charlotte in 1946.
Yesterday, Miss A. and I had the privilege of meeting a lovely older lady there, who grew up in the village and, like all the children in her youth, knew the queen. The queen, a relatively shy person, had no children of her own and spent her retirement years remaining in the village, doting on the children there. She gave a birthday tea in the "castle" (actually a very comfortable country home - nothing ostentatious or palace/castle-like whatsoever) for all the village children each year. At Christmas, she would come to the little school house and give gifts to the children.
The queen and villagers were familiar with each other. The lady told us of playing hide-and-seek on the grounds of the monastery/royal residence. Anytime the children encountered the queen, they had to bow or curtsey and say "Good day, Majesty". The lady said she didn't like to do that because then the queen would ask about their schooling and families and they had to be polite and answer. What kid, busy at play, would want to have to stand there and answer all those questions?! (She laughed.)
Queen Charlotte is remembered fondly even today by the old-timers in Bebenhausen. They are proud that their last queen chose to stay and live quietly amongst them in their little village after history swept away there little kingdom. And, just as typically for these local Swabians*, they don't feel a need to boast about it. It was just everyday life for them.
*Swabians - the people of southwestern Germany, who speak a dialect of the same name.
16
Comments
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I like the hanging birdhouse, and of course the shutters and heavy wooden door. So nice and quaint!
CHOSSID · 2012-05-18: 05:12
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Thanks for that piece of history you provide to us. Love those houses with the wood skeleton.
angil · 2012-05-18: 05:17
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lovely set. so old beauty....
kwibusje · 2012-05-18: 06:34
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Sweet set! Thanks!
Lsample · 2012-05-18: 06:39
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Yet another of your wonderful history sets. Really enjoyed looking at the photos and finding out the secret :)
inawe · 2012-05-18: 07:04
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What a beautiful set as well as a beautiful history lesson.
karmankwarner · 2012-05-18: 07:11
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Amazing set! I love the story. Well done!
honzicek · 2012-05-18: 07:25
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Lovely history of this quaint old village.
MoMac · 2012-05-18: 11:59
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These are all so wonderful .... I love all of them!!!!! You are surrounded by such beauty and so much history!
Patricia132 · 2012-05-18: 12:09
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Incredible history and info...I would have loved to frolick around this location....queen or not ;)) Wonderful set!
KatysPassionata · 2012-05-18: 21:25
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fantastic set !
photodeclair · 2012-05-19: 01:10
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You always teach me something new...Love it! and beautiful shots, AS ALWAYS! Junior Picasso LOL
kblakes · 2012-05-19: 03:25
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I am way to easily fooled!!!! 8^) So are the kind and queen at least buried there and you DID get to "visit" them? Wonderful place, wonderful photos, #5 is calling to me! So what didn't you like about the camera??
DancingDolphin · 2012-05-19: 11:31
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great set! I've been researching for a trip through that area so I'll fav this so I can come back to it! what a great story. weren't you lucky to meet with that lady!
beth0110 · 2012-05-20: 22:29
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This is a charming history Jay, as charming as the whole village is. Like in the books of Grimm, such a lovely place only could have a king and a queen. This is a trip straight into the middle age :))
Unchained · 2012-05-21: 15:20
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beautiful land, beautiful photos :)
Gunman · 2012-06-04: 13:32
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