On the occasion of 20 years of StadtBILD
A contribution by Uwe Kahl | Council archivist at the Christian Weise Library Zittau
in the anniversary issue “20 Years of StadtBILD” in August 2019
It's hard to believe, but still true: StadtBILD is twenty years old.
Preparations for the new publication began in the summer of 1999.
In February 2000 the time had come: the first issue of the new series “StadtBILD – Journal for Görlitz and the surrounding area” was published. The magazine in a handy A5 format and a length of 28 pages was designed by the Görlitz advertising service and Thomas Oertel was the editor.
In the foreword, Michael Vogel, then the chief monument protector in the city of Görlitz, wrote: “We hope that the journal 'StadtBILD' will succeed in sensitizing many citizens and guests of our city to the preservation and protection of monuments. […] The economic factor of monument preservation and protection is not insignificant, especially in structurally weak regions such as Upper Lusatia.” The topics of the first StadtBILD issue included the Kaisertrutz and its name, the Nikolaifriedhof, the Postplatz, and the training center for crafts and monument preservation , the beer feud between Görlitz and Zittau, a building renovation on Brautwiesenplatz and much more.
The readers seem to have liked the colorful mix of topics and the popular style of presentation, because StadtBILD found sequels. This was by no means a given, as many new magazines and series of local history publications had sprung up in our region in the first few years after the fall of communism. Some of them didn't even see a second edition, others didn't even see a second year. There are only a few series left on the regional magazine market today.
At that time, the StadtBILD was still published irregularly. The monthly publication was only switched to later.
In the first few years, the best articles from the individual issues were compiled into annual books and republished. Three volumes are published for Görlitz, editions 1-12 (2003), 13-18 (2004) and 19-24 (2005).
Since the StadtBILD for Görlitz got off to a successful start, another series was launched in April 2000, the “StadtBILD – Journal for Zittau and the surrounding area”. The foreword was written by none other than the former Oybin pastor, later Zittau district administrator and Saxon Interior Minister Heinz Eggert. He wrote: “It is little known in the world. The 750-year-old town of Zittau is located in the southeasternmost tip of Saxony, at the border triangle with the Czech Republic and Poland, in the middle of a varied low mountain landscape. […] Anyone who comes here will also understand why the eventful history of this region and its beauty hold promise, even after the structural change after the fall of the Wall. The people who live here live from history, from the beauty of this landscape and from the hope for change. All of this is little known in the world. Maybe this magazine will make some things better known.” The topics of the first Zittau magazine included the former city wall, the St. John's Church, the Weinau restaurant, the castle and monastery complex on the Oybin, the salt house, the Dornspachhaus and the old high school in Zittau.
For the “Day of the Saxons” in Zittau in September 2001, a special edition of StadtBILD was even published under the title “Zittau – Historical and lively in the border triangle”. A colorful picture sheet of Zittau's history and sights was offered on 52 pages. It is probably the only special edition of StadtBILD to this day.
The best articles from issues 1-8 were finally compiled and republished in a “StadtBILD Zittau Annual Book” in April 2004.
And since all good things always come in threes, a third series of publications started in June 2003: “StadtBILD – Journal for Bautzen and the surrounding area”. The foreword said: “Starting with this issue, the Stadtbild editorial team would like to bring the history and historical traditions of this 1,000-year-old city closer to readers. […] The sights, the beautiful landscape, the historic buildings, the multitude of towers, the churches, the town hall and the well-preserved and renovated baroque houses will be the focus of the StadtBILD contributions.” The Reichenturm, Dr. Gregorius Mättig, the first Ortenburg, an uprising of the guilds, brewing bars and brewing rights, as well as the water supply in old Bautzen were the topics of the first Bautzen issue.
In February 2000 the time had come: the first issue of the new series “StadtBILD – Journal for Görlitz and the surrounding area” was published. The magazine in a handy A5 format and a length of 28 pages was designed by the Görlitz advertising service and Thomas Oertel was the editor.
In the foreword, Michael Vogel, then the chief monument protector in the city of Görlitz, wrote: “We hope that the journal 'StadtBILD' will succeed in sensitizing many citizens and guests of our city to the preservation and protection of monuments. […] The economic factor of monument preservation and protection is not insignificant, especially in structurally weak regions such as Upper Lusatia.” The topics of the first StadtBILD issue included the Kaisertrutz and its name, the Nikolaifriedhof, the Postplatz, and the training center for crafts and monument preservation , the beer feud between Görlitz and Zittau, a building renovation on Brautwiesenplatz and much more.
The readers seem to have liked the colorful mix of topics and the popular style of presentation, because StadtBILD found sequels. This was by no means a given, as many new magazines and series of local history publications had sprung up in our region in the first few years after the fall of communism. Some of them didn't even see a second edition, others didn't even see a second year. There are only a few series left on the regional magazine market today.
At that time, the StadtBILD was still published irregularly. The monthly publication was only switched to later.
In the first few years, the best articles from the individual issues were compiled into annual books and republished. Three volumes are published for Görlitz, editions 1-12 (2003), 13-18 (2004) and 19-24 (2005).
Since the StadtBILD for Görlitz got off to a successful start, another series was launched in April 2000, the “StadtBILD – Journal for Zittau and the surrounding area”. The foreword was written by none other than the former Oybin pastor, later Zittau district administrator and Saxon Interior Minister Heinz Eggert. He wrote: “It is little known in the world. The 750-year-old town of Zittau is located in the southeasternmost tip of Saxony, at the border triangle with the Czech Republic and Poland, in the middle of a varied low mountain landscape. […] Anyone who comes here will also understand why the eventful history of this region and its beauty hold promise, even after the structural change after the fall of the Wall. The people who live here live from history, from the beauty of this landscape and from the hope for change. All of this is little known in the world. Maybe this magazine will make some things better known.” The topics of the first Zittau magazine included the former city wall, the St. John's Church, the Weinau restaurant, the castle and monastery complex on the Oybin, the salt house, the Dornspachhaus and the old high school in Zittau.
For the “Day of the Saxons” in Zittau in September 2001, a special edition of StadtBILD was even published under the title “Zittau – Historical and lively in the border triangle”. A colorful picture sheet of Zittau's history and sights was offered on 52 pages. It is probably the only special edition of StadtBILD to this day.
The best articles from issues 1-8 were finally compiled and republished in a “StadtBILD Zittau Annual Book” in April 2004.
And since all good things always come in threes, a third series of publications started in June 2003: “StadtBILD – Journal for Bautzen and the surrounding area”. The foreword said: “Starting with this issue, the Stadtbild editorial team would like to bring the history and historical traditions of this 1,000-year-old city closer to readers. […] The sights, the beautiful landscape, the historic buildings, the multitude of towers, the churches, the town hall and the well-preserved and renovated baroque houses will be the focus of the StadtBILD contributions.” The Reichenturm, Dr. Gregorius Mättig, the first Ortenburg, an uprising of the guilds, brewing bars and brewing rights, as well as the water supply in old Bautzen were the topics of the first Bautzen issue.
But even with StadtBILD not all the trees grew to the sky or, as they say today, the market cleared out some of the offers. In the long run, the three series of publications Görlitz, Zittau and Bautzen could not be maintained. It had become difficult to get enough interesting and informative articles for the various magazines, as well as to get enough paying advertising customers.
The StadtBILD Bautzen was discontinued after only two issues and the Zittau series after 13 issues or merged with the Görlitz original.
Today the series is called “StadtBILD – Görlitz – Upper Lusatia – Lower Silesia”. The main focus of the content is of course the city of Görlitz with its rich history and its countless sights; after all, the StadtBILD is also published there. But the series is also always open to reports from all other regions of Upper Lusatia and also includes the neighboring areas of Lower Silesia, Saxony and Bohemia.
Now the StadtBILD is twenty years old and the 200th edition is already in sight. This should be quite unique in the regional magazine market and beyond. There are not only a lot of magazines and even more articles and pictures behind it, but also a lot of work and effort.
This needs to be recognized and appreciated. Of course, the simplicity of the contributions is sometimes criticized, but they are not aimed at a specialist audience, but at the interested average citizen.
Everyone is also warmly invited to contribute to StadtBILD; relevant contributions are always welcome to the editorial team.
Finally, it should also be said that the relatively large proportion of advertising in the StadtBILD magazines, which is sometimes criticized, ultimately ensures their financing.
The selling price of 1 euro is probably more symbolic and a large part of the edition is also distributed free of charge. The first issues of StadtBILD have long since been sold out and have become sought-after collector's items.
There are probably only a few libraries and private collectors who have a complete collection of the entire volumes of all three series.
So all that's left is to congratulate StadtBILD, the editorial team and the publisher of the series once again on their 20th anniversary!
The StadtBILD Bautzen was discontinued after only two issues and the Zittau series after 13 issues or merged with the Görlitz original.
Today the series is called “StadtBILD – Görlitz – Upper Lusatia – Lower Silesia”. The main focus of the content is of course the city of Görlitz with its rich history and its countless sights; after all, the StadtBILD is also published there. But the series is also always open to reports from all other regions of Upper Lusatia and also includes the neighboring areas of Lower Silesia, Saxony and Bohemia.
Now the StadtBILD is twenty years old and the 200th edition is already in sight. This should be quite unique in the regional magazine market and beyond. There are not only a lot of magazines and even more articles and pictures behind it, but also a lot of work and effort.
This needs to be recognized and appreciated. Of course, the simplicity of the contributions is sometimes criticized, but they are not aimed at a specialist audience, but at the interested average citizen.
Everyone is also warmly invited to contribute to StadtBILD; relevant contributions are always welcome to the editorial team.
Finally, it should also be said that the relatively large proportion of advertising in the StadtBILD magazines, which is sometimes criticized, ultimately ensures their financing.
The selling price of 1 euro is probably more symbolic and a large part of the edition is also distributed free of charge. The first issues of StadtBILD have long since been sold out and have become sought-after collector's items.
There are probably only a few libraries and private collectors who have a complete collection of the entire volumes of all three series.
So all that's left is to congratulate StadtBILD, the editorial team and the publisher of the series once again on their 20th anniversary!
Keep it up and look forward to the next 20 years!
