Secret passage

Secret passages are hidden passages or tunnels which granted in Europe, especially during the Middle Ages usually an escape from a fortification or access to a hiding place. Most are underground tunnels that were designed according to the environment. They can be made of the loess, as they are available in brick-lined form or as a natural cavity. From the rock struck secret passages, there are few, because the funds that were available during the Middle Ages to build a rock path, were modest compared to today's technology, and therefore, such works were difficult and tedious.

Archaeological undeveloped secret passages

The few historical or archaeological guaranteed secret passages are kept as short as possible and usually led directly behind the Bering of the plant to a non-accessible by attackers point to the outside. Examples of long passageways that might even crossed beneath watercourses, there is still no. The stories about all come from the imagination of writers and storytellers from the time the castle romanticism. So is a secret passage from the castle Hohenstaufen lead to the former castle Filseck. This would have to pass under the Fils Valley, his nine kilometers long and about 350 meters altitude difference overcome. Even a supposedly secret escape tunnel in the castle Lichtenstein turned out finally as a natural cave, and at the time and again bandied secret passage from the chapel of the castle of Wildenstein in Leibertingen it is much more likely simply a basement.

Cultural history more interesting than the structure and nature of these secret passageways are the legends that have grown up around them. They are usually associated with medieval castles and monasteries. Not infrequently found there supposed to be a hidden treasure. In many places it is reported by secret passages, the " childhood " should have been available a few years ago, which can, however, be verified in the rarest of cases. Sometimes there are old sewers or tunnels mouth holes of mining.

Examples of actually existing secret passages were or are there at the castle Altwindstein in Alsace, the mountain Dilsberg at Heidelberg and at the Predjama Castle and Castle Sigmaringen. In the Burg Lauenstein there is a secret passage, whose input is the inner wall of a closet. The transition, however, is partially collapsed, and it is unknown where he led initially.

An unusual for the Middle Ages is the secret passage Passetto di Borgo, which looks like an ordinary wall to the outside and connects the Vatican with Castel Sant'Angelo. In its interior there is an escape passage.

Secret passages in modern architecture

Moreover, in some modern castles and palaces exist secret passages in the wall thicknesses. These served the residents together with corresponding secret doors to move unseen between the rooms, and were already planned when construction of the building by the architect. For example, has the Doge's Palace in Venice such secret passageways.

Between the Berlin City Palace and the Royal Stables building also existed a secret underground passage. This was used after the demolition of the castle and the building of the Palace of the Republic by the government of the GDR on. A stationed in the Marstall Stasi unit oversaw the operations in and around the palace. The demonstrations during the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the GDR Stasi teams could emerge as a surprise from an unexpected direction.