Traveling around 1800: adventure and challenges for explorers

Traveling around 1800: adventure and challenges for explorers

In the Michelau basket museum, Professor Günter Dippold gave an revealing lecture on the travel practices around 1800. Chairman of the CHW district group Thilo Hanft welcomed numerous interested parties who wanted to learn more about the travel living at that time.

Professor Dippold started his explanations with the quote "Reisen Use a lot" by Jean Paul, which emphasizes education and not the business aspects of travel. Travel was diverse for people at the time; Both trade trips and educational trips played an important role. For example, the basket maker traveled from the Obermain with loaded wheelbarrows to northern Germany, while raftsman brought wood from the Franconian forest to the Rhine. Italian dealers were also active and offered south fruits and galantry goods.

travel motifs and educational trips

A significant focus of the lecture was on the various travel motifs. Noble people often sent their sons on educational trips, which was common in the 16th century, while craftsmanship went on a hike after their apprenticeship to gain knowledge. These trips not only had practical use, but were also associated with historical and ideal findings. While some people expressed concerns that money was abroad, Dippold argued that the returning experiences and talents more than expense this loss.

The late 1700s were a heyday for travel reports, since observing and documenting was greatly appreciated during the trips. So travel should not be aimless; Rather, it was important to travel with a clear goal and look at education.

means of transport in the 18th century

Dippold continued to explain how people traveled around 1800. On foot, it was the most common but most strenuous method, especially with luggage. Alternatively, there was the possibility to use post -covers that represented a newer transport form. These carriages transported letters, packages and travelers between fixed postal holder, which were about 15 to 30 kilometers apart. Drivers with local knowledge were urgently recommended to not get lost, especially not in the often bad way.

The carriages offered a faster and more comfortable trip compared to foot, but were not cheap - a trip from Bamberg to Erlangen cost the equivalent of 60 beer. In view of these costs, many people chose the walking trip, even if this was difficult.

A nice aspect of traveling was the exchange with the locals. But Dippold warned that you could not always rely on local information, especially in Upper Franconia. Travelers often encountered very different conditions whether they had to stay in the hotel or had to sleep in an economy in the shed.

Another look devoted itself to the revolutionary change that the railway brought with it. This new form of transport accelerated the travel enormously and quickly made the post -coaches unprofitable. Professor Dippold recalled that travel through the railway was fundamentally transformed and that everyday trips were able to overcome many of the challenges and efforts of the previous generations in the 19th century.

Finally, he quoted the poet Matthias Claudius with the words: "If someone does a trip, he can do something". The lecture was very well received and the audience applauded enthusiastically before an exciting discussion about the topic arose. In addition, there was the opportunity to visit the special exhibition "Councilor", which also met with great interest.

For everyone who would like to learn more about traveling around 1800, offers m.obermain.de comprehensive information .