|
|
The
Ströbeck Chess Museum invites you to lake around
|
|
|
|
|
In the 11th
century a Halberstadt bishop incarcerated a prisoner brought back from
a war crusade in Ströbeck's peel tower.
The prisoner was, in fact, a prince and he taught the royal game of
chess to the local peasants guarding him.
|
|
|
|
|
The basement of the museum contains exhibits relating
to local history, historical chess costumes, chess literature as well
as friendship and anniversary gifts of the Ströbeck Chess Club. There
is a TV niche to accommodate up to 25 visitors showing videos on the
past and present of the Chess Village. A ten-minute monochrome film
document on Ströbeck in 1940 is particularly worth seeing. |
|
|
|
In the upper floor of the museum attention
is drawn immediately to the section
"Chess as a school subject since 1823".
The winners of the chess boards and figures up to the present day are recorded on a roll of
honour.
Visitors can also view teaching programs and work sheets for chess lessons at the Ströbeck school as well as school reports with chess grades. There are tables with pictures and results of games listing all of the great masters of chess who played simultaneous chess in Ströbeck since 1926
(including: Dr. Bertold Lasker, Bogoljubow, A. Suetin, M. Tal, W. Uhlmann...)
The permanent exhibition "Ströbeck through the centuries"
has historical picture and text documents as well as traditional dress
and chess costumes to provide an idea of the varied and interesting
history of Ströbeck. A number of valuable exhibits are on loan
from the Municipal Museum of Halberstadt. Visitors can view the Ströbeck
chalice, which was found in 1929 in a gravel quarry, the club flag of
the Worker-Cyclist Association "Solidarity" from 1922 and a courier
chess board with 96 squares from 1817 (see above).
|
|
|
|
Interesting chess sets and boards from around the
world:
|
The exhibition contains
exotic chess sets of various peoples around the world
reflecting their respective cultures. There is a chess
set from Greenland, for example, with Eskimo figures
and igloo. There are also sets from China with temple
buildings and various pawn figures representing the
eight immortal gods. A highlight, and probably the
most valuable exhibit at the museum is the gift from
the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm in 1651 bearing the coat of arms of Brandenburg and an
inscription. Unfortunately, the silver figures have
been lost. The board can be turned over to play the
courier version of chess with 96 squares. A school
group reproduced the twelve "officers" (the
eight familiar figures are supplemented by a
"man", a "fool" and two "couriers")
and the twelve soldiers in black and white to
illustrate a modified version of our familiar game of
chess.
|
|
Opening times:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00 to 12.00 ´Clock and 13.00 to 16.00 ´Clock
Thursday from 13.00 to 18.00 ´Clock
Saturday from 14.00 to 17.00 ´Clock
Sunday from 10.00 to 12.00 ´Clock
Other times can be arranged for groups with the
museum director, Mr. Cacek or with Ms. Jung, the museum attendant.
Tel: 039427/ 99 850
Did you know...
...that the
"courier" version of chess was played in Ströbeck from the 13th to the 19th
century?
...that the
"reduced" Ströbeck chess game was derived from the courier
version?
...that the inhabitants of Ströbeck had to present every new sovereign on gaining the throne with a silver chess game to renew their tax-free
status?
back
|
|
