Turmbau zu Trier

 Our story begins in the year 1483, in medieval Trier.

It is a time of conflict between city councils and the church. As archbishopric, Trier is especially suffering from this conflict. What began with small provovations should quickly evolve into a small war. In 1483, the Steipe ( N 49° 45.406 E 006° 38.456), which now held the city council, was completed, the council had dealed a first blow. Because, if looking closer at the building, one would recongnise the two knights on its front, also called "Giants". But while one of them had an open visor, the other one had it closed. The left knight looked friendly over to the civil church of St. Gangolf, which has recently been completed as well. The right knight however, looked hatefully and ready for battle over to the city cathedral (Dom), which was the center of the archbishops power. This was the first blow of the city council, but the second one should get stuck in its planing phase. The plan was to increase the height of the tower of St. Gangolf so that it would be higher than the towers of the cathedral. But as often, money supply was insufficient. This is the time, when two not so well known, but nevertheless important citizens of Trier, entered the conflict arena. 

On one side, the side of the city council, Adelheid von Besselich entered the ring. She had acquired a large amount of money from her husband, who turned out to be a criminal and was thrown into jail. Adelheid was now funding a number of cultural and humanitarian projects in the city.  For the church, Richard  von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads, the archbishop since 1511, entered the ring.

In 1507, the 62 meter tower of the St. Gangolf church was completed, patialy funded by Adelheids money.  It was higher as the cathedral. At this time, Richard con Greiffenklau was still cantor in the cathedral but as soon as he became archbishop at 15th May 1511, he started a construction project to rise the two towers of the cathedral to be higher than the tower of St. Gangolf. The enlargement of the nothwest tower proceeded as planed and in 1512, the supremacy of the church was restored. At his point however, the the archibishop ran out of money and could not rise the southwest tower as well. At this time, the asymetric front of the cathedral was created that is still existing today.

But now for the cache.

Start your journey at the Steipe: N 49° 45.406 E 006° 38.456. Count the number of windows between the two giants (A)

Now go to St. Gangolf (N 49° 45.380 E 006° 38.457): Look inside the chruch for a wooden door and answer the following questions:  Who started his job in 1514 (C= Cross Sum of the value of the first letter in his first name)? An in which year was the Reichstag where he participated (B= Cross Sum (year) -2)?

Cathedral (N 49° 45.372 E 006° 38.577): Look for the grave of Richard von Greiffenklaus. There you find a metal plate where his name occurs in the first line. What letter has been added to his name there? (D= value of the letter)

The Final is located at N 49° 4(B-2). (D-B)5C    E006° 3A.BDD..

IMPORTANT NOTE: You can only atttempt the cache during the opening hours of the churches. There is no entrance fee.
DOM: April to October: 8h00-18h00, November to March: 8h00-17h00
ST GANGOLF: Everyday: 8h00-18h30