Ivory Tower

Two hundred years ago there were more towers around here. Just down the street was a block that used to form part of the old city wall, this block was bordered on either end by towers (gates) of the old wall.


Earliest recorded mention of the Pütrichturm, above, was in 1289. It has also been referred to as the Inner Sendlinger Gate, Blauententurm, the Stockhamerturm, the Rudolfturm, and the Ruffiniturm. Pütrich was the name of a patrician Munich family during the middle ages, the Ruffinis (who owned a house near the tower from 1708 to 1816) must have just been Italian Johnny-come-latelies...at any rate, the tower was taken down in 1808.


The Schöner Turm was around the corner in the other direction. It was damaged by a French grenade in 1796, and dismantled in 1807.


Four hundred years ago, there were not only more towers, but our view to the 500 year old Kreuz Kirche tower would have been augmented by several open yards and two planted fields.


There were definitely events here you would have wanted to miss, like the massive powder explosion that destroyed the city gate behind us on September 15th, 1857. Most of this information comes from a large book on subterranean Munich that we got for 13 bucks on sale (because, frankly, it’s a rather boring topic and nobody gives a rat’s ass). It’s always hard to resist a remotely decent deal on a book, take "In Europe’s Name: Germany and the Divided Continent" purchased yesterday. Even with shipping from the U.S. it’s only about twelve and a half euros, that’s pretty good for a 680 page hardcover book that’s like new. Not only that, but a prominent American scholar in Berlin is quoted as saying that it's the number one book on the German character, but even more amusing is the fact that his interview took place at 'the Starbucks next to Checkpoint Charlie'...personally, I think that phrase is all you need to know about German history, period.