In the beginning, as serfs of the Hofkloster (monastery), we got our judgement at the Marienbrunnen (Mary's fountain) by the stairs of today's Hofkirche.
From the middle of the 13th century, the Habsburgs allowed us to hold court ourselves. This happened at the lower fish market (unterer Fischmarkt), by the court linden tree.
Later, the first town hall of Lucerne (the building before today's Hotel Des Balances) became the court place. The executions happened at the Sentimatt execution place.
Location of the Sentimatt Execution Place
It was between Dammstrasse and Sentimatt 1, directly at the Reuss river, outside the old city walls.
Today, there is a parking lot there. On the left is the University of Teacher Education (Pädagogische Hochschule), on the right a concrete wall, and behind it the Sonnenberg tunnel.
.jpg "Sentimatt execution place, Schumacher plan overlaid on Google Maps") |
| Exact location of the Sentimatt execution place, Schumacher plan overlaid on Google Maps. Old pink=Execution place, Red=Kallenberg (Scaffold) |
The Sentimatt Execution Place on the Schumacher Plan
On the Schumacher Plan from 1790, you can see the execution place very clearly:
- A fenced property outside the city walls.
- A main house with three floors, and other small buildings.
- A garden with trees (probably apple trees).
- A closed-off area with a hole – probably to put the dead bodies in.
- A round, high place in the middle of the area: the Kallenberg.
Explanation: The Kallenberg is a scaffold made of stone. It is the round or eight-sided platform (the "stage") where the bloody executions, like beheadings or the "breaking on the wheel", happened.
Who lived in the main house, we don't know. Probably the family of the executioner and his servants. But the building looks very big.
.jpg "Sentimatt Execution Place on the Schumacher Plan") |
| Sentimatt Execution Place on the Schumacher Plan |
Picture in the Diebold Schilling Chronicle
In the Diebold Schilling Chronicle, you can also see the Sentimatt execution place. You see it with the Reuss river and in the background (behind the smoke) the Musegg walls.
.jpg "Diebold Schilling Chronik 1513, Folio 174v (352)") |
| Diebold Schilling Chronik 1513, Folio 174v (352) - Wikimedia |
Second Execution Place from the Middle of the 16th Century
Around 1562, Lucerne made another execution place. It was near the Emmen-Bridge – at the place where the Reuss and Emme rivers flow together, on the left river side.
From this time, the Sentimatt was used only for executioins with the sword.
