Saturday 4 April 2015

Madhouse


The circular building with 28 windows corresponding to the lunar cycle on each of its 5 floors is the Narrenturm or Fools Tower. It is one of the lesser known landmarks of Vienna. It was built by the Austrian emperor Jospeh II in the 18th century. 

In the centre of the circular building there was (until about 1910) a tower where his majesty had his own apartment and from which astronomical observations could be made and views over the rural landscape and the nearby city could be appreciated, for in the time of the emperor the Narrenturm was situated outside the city which has  in modern times expanded to include it. 

Other residents (apart from the emperor who refused to reside in the Schonbrunn Palace but preferred to travel incognito into every nook and cranny of his empire to talk to his subjects on more or less equal terms) were the emperor's collection of lunatics and the medical staff. The Fools Tower was a majestic hobby as well as being a royal escape hole; somewhere safely away from the pressures of being an emperor.

The Vienna public who enjoyed visiting the tower at the weekends and climbing up its walls to peer through the windows at the patients within had no idea that the face looking down on them from the topmost point, from the apartment at the summit of the tower, was no other than their emperor. 

Because the primitive toilet system in the 18th century building was continually blocked with human and other waste the interior of the building was reputed to be the smelliest place in Vienna. One can imagine the effect of the foul stench on the weekend curiosity seekers peering through the glassless windows of the tower in the summer months and their reaction; perhaps the inhabitants, after the  initial shock, were immune to the smell.

In winter the Narrenturm would be bitter cold. There were attempts involving steam and smoke to provide a kind of central heating for the Narrenturm but unfortunately they failed miserably. 


. . . I am Sigmund Freud and a banana,
or also can simply be a banana !!!

7 comments:

  1. The insane asylum. The asylum of the insane. Tonight is the total eclipse at the full moon. April 4. Little wonder I am feeling better. I will visit this place when I am in Vienna.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tonights lunar eclipse is the last of the so-called 'four blood moons'. There is much speculation regarding the fact that the 'four blood moons' fell on Jewish holidays and the fact that there was a solar eclipse between the second and third lunar eclipse and what it all means in the biblical context of 'signs from heaven'.

      Delete
    2. It was very cloudy last night. Tonight hopefully it will be clearer.

      Delete
  2. Charlie Adam has just scored a sensational goal for Stoke at Stamford Bridge. It didn't even touch the Chelsea half. Goal of the season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My sports page today leads on the Arsenal performance. Each goal better than the last! is the headline regarding the 4-1 victory over Liverpool!

      Delete
    2. Thanks. Now seen it. Definitely a strong goal of the season candidate. It seems, according to Sparkie, that Charlie tries these long punts without success in training but he says it's better to get one right in the match.

      Delete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.