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Press Information
Key theme for the GNTB in 2014
600th anniversary of the Council of Constance: setting
the course of European history
Frankfurt am Main, 19 September 2013 – In 2014, the region around Lake Constance will
be celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Council of Constance – the largest religious
congress of the Middle Ages. Between 1414 and 1418, important figures from all over
Europe assembled in Constance to discuss the future of the divided church and to elect a
new Pope. At that time, three Popes were vying for the chair of St. Peter and the situation
was very delicate. Each had the support of different rulers in Europe, which led to political
turmoil both within and beyond the Holy Roman Empire. There was also unrest among the
people because the clergy was increasingly engaging in worldly pleasures and abusing
the sale of indulgences.
When Sigismund became the German king in 1410, he recognised the need to restore
unity to the Western Church. Using his excellent contacts within Europe and good
connections to the three Papal claimants, he orchestrated the 16th ecumenical council to
heal the schism in the church. Constance was chosen as the venue. The papal election of
1417 is thought to be the only one that has ever been held north of the Alps – this defining
event made the town the centre of the Christian world between 1414 and 1418. Never
before had a council lasted so long, nor drawn so many participants. Constance became a
melting pot of cultures. The dynamic exchange of goods and knowledge alone left an
indelible mark on the society of the time. For several years, merchants, artists and
representatives from renowned European universities shaped life around Lake
Constance.
The town of Constance promises to be a magnificent backdrop for the forthcoming
anniversary celebrations with its well-preserved historical old quarter and host of authentic
locations – the building in which the council was hosted, for example, still exists today. It
was built between 1388 and 1391 as a trading post and lakeside market hall. Here,
between mighty oak columns, church dignitaries assembled in the upper hall behind
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Tourist Board (GNTB)
Beethovenstrasse 69
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Phone: +49 69 97464-262
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[email protected]
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bricked-up windows to engage in their deliberations until finally, in November 1417, the
Roman Cardinal Oddo Colonna was elected Pope Martin V. The impact of this election is
still relevant today. It is thanks to the outcome of the Council of Constance that the
present-day Catholic Church is united under one Pope. The major regional exhibition ‘The
Council of Constance 1414-1418. A Medieval World Event’ opens at the market hall on 27
April 2014. On display will be a unique collection of exhibits on loan from a number of
important museums in Europe. With its proximity to Switzerland and its vibrant,
cosmopolitan flair, Constance is a magnet for travellers. Just as it was at the time of the
Council of Constance – when people from all over the world descended upon this lakeside
town and trading hub.
“The anniversary of the Council of Constance next year will present a fantastic opportunity
for visitors from all over Europe to get to know another facet of Germany’s culture,” says
Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the GNTB. Germany is a very popular
destination for cultural travel and was the number one cultural destination for European
travellers in 2012. The Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index, a survey measuring and
comparing the reputation of 50 countries around the world, also confirms Germany’s
outstanding image as a cultural destination. Petra Hedorfer: “Germany has played a key
role in the history of the church, and many travellers see anniversaries, such as the 600th
anniversary of the Council of Constance, as an opportunity to travel around Germany
visiting the most important sites of historical interest.”
About the GNTB
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
It works on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) to represent
Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken
by the German Bundestag. The GNTB develops and communicates strategies and products to
promote Germany's positive image abroad as a tourist destination and to encourage tourists to visit
the country. It has 30 agencies around the world to support its activities. More information can be
found in our online press centre at www.germany.travel/presse.
German National
Tourist Board (GNTB)
Beethovenstrasse 69
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Phone: +49 69 97464-262
Fax: +49 69 97464-233
[email protected]