Borders and heritage

Loss of political independence and rise of heritage: The Giech Collection in Thurnau Castle.

Due to the transformation of their political role over the course of the 19th century, the nobility across Europe reorientated itself toward the preservation of the past and began to collect and make publicly available objects in relation to the family history. This was also true for the Counts of Giech in Thurnau. The two most important persons in this context for the Giech family were Hermann (1791-1846) and Carl (1795-1863). The family archive and the Bibliotheca Giechiana were reorganized, and their care, preservation and inalienability were stipulated in the house law passed in 1855. In addition, Thurnau Castle was open to the public for the first time in 1857. Depictions of the collection can be found across the room. The hooks that hold the Border Installation were used to hold the armoury. Among the visitors were the former royal couple of Greece, Otto and Amalie, visiting during their exile in Bamberg.