On April 25, exactly 70 years ago today, the state of Baden-Württemberg was founded. The road to a common state was long. But bit by bit it worked. The parliament of Württemberg-Hohenzollern met in the Bebenhausen monastery – the state and its members were staunch supporters of the new state.
A monastery as a place of democracy
Bebenhausen is far more than a place of monks and monastery students, of dukes and kings – the monastery and castle are also places of democracy. After the end of the Second World War, the parliament of the state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern met in Bebenhausen. The state parliament in the venerable monastery vigorously advocated the merger of Württemberg-Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern and Baden to form today’s state of Baden-Württemberg. And he was able to rely on broad support from the people: over 90% of the residents of Württemberg-Hohenzollern voted for the new state in the 1951 referendum.
Democratic new beginning
After the Second World War in 1945, today’s Baden-Württemberg was divided into three zones: the American Württemberg-Baden and the French areas of Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern. After the political parties were re-admitted, an advisory state assembly could be elected on November 17, 1946. A few days later, the 65 MPs met for the first time in Bebenhausen. Their main task was to draft a new constitution for Württemberg-Hohenzollern. With the referendum on the state’s constitution on May 18, 1947, the first state elections also took place – a milestone. It was the first free parliamentary election in this part of the country after the Second World War.
PARLIAMENT
On June 3, 1947, the parliament in Bebenhausen began its work. All 118 plenary sessions were held in the winter refectory of the former monastery, as this was the only large room that could be heated. The Landtag was initially elected for four years. However, his mandate was extended by almost a year, since the merger of the three south-west German areas to form the federal state of Baden-Württemberg was already on the horizon. In September 1949, the heads of government of Württemberg-Hohenzollern, Baden and Württemberg-Baden met in Bebenhausen – an important moment: the three agreed to hold a referendum on the merger of the three parts of the state.
DEPUTIES IN THE DORMITORY
The Green Hall in Bebenhausen Palace was the lounge for the members of parliament, while the Blue Hall was mostly used for official events. The President of the Landtag and the administration sat in the royal breakfast room and in the reading room. The guest rooms and the king’s apartment were used as faction rooms. Since the sessions often lasted until late in the evening, the majority of the deputies stayed in the monks’ cells in the former dormitory.
Farewell to BebenhausEn
The last session of the state parliament in Bebenhausen took place on May 30, 1952. At that time, the state of Baden-Württemberg already existed: on April 25, the first provisional government of Baden-Württemberg was formed. Franz Xaver Gog, lawyer and politician of the CDU, commented on this in the last session of the state parliament of Württemberg-Hohenzollern: “I think we can give the development of the new state the wish that the spirit of the state parliament and government in Bebenhausen may also come to him and accompany him on his way into the future. […] Long live the new land!”
services and information
Monastery and Castle Bebenhausen
monastery
OPENING HOURS
April 1st to October 31st
Mon – Sun, public holidays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m
PRICES
Adults €6.00
reduced €3.00
Family € 15.00
Schloss
OPENING HOURS
The interior of Bebenhausen Castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour.
Classic castle tour
April 1st to October 31st
Tue – Fri 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. every hour
Sat, Sun, public holidays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. every hour
Last guided tour at 4 p.m
PRICES
Castle with a guide
Adults €8.00
reduced €4.00
Family € 20.00
Visit to the monastery and castle
Adults €10.00
reduced €5.00
Family € 25.00
A NOTICE
From April 3, 2022, the following Corona rules will apply to the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg: We would also like to continue to make it possible for people at risk and vulnerable groups to stay with us as safely as possible. The mask is an efficient way to protect yourself and others from infection. Otherwise, the risk of infection is high, especially indoors. Against the background of the high number of infections, we are therefore sticking to the obligation to wear masks indoors until further notice. Please note that persons over the age of 18 are obliged to wear FFP2 masks (or comparable, e.g. KN95/N95/KF94/KF95 masks)
CONTACT
Monastery and Castle Bebenhausen
In the castle
72074 Tübingen-Bebenhausen
Phone +49 (0) 70 71.60 28 02
[email protected]
www.kloster-bebenhausen.de
www.schloesser-und-gaerten.de
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