Welcome to the audio tour through our historic town Otterndorf. 9th grade students from the local school Gymnasium Otterndorf have translated and recorded the English version of the tour for you.

Audio

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When you think of a broomstick you usually think of a supernatural flying object. But ever since Harry Potter taught us that the only way to win a Quidditch match is through having a very powerful and fast broomstick made by the brand “Nimbus 2000”, it has completely lost its scary side.
For our ancestors however, the world wasn’t as rational and structured as that. As Shakespeare once said: ”There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” That may be interesting, on the other hand it’s dangerous and evokes fears that probably should have remained concealed. As in many places, people in Otterndorf believed in evil witches and their dangerous spells. Witch-hunts did not start in the Middle Ages, like many believe, but in the early modern times, where everything that seemed clear and safe started to collapse: A society ordered by god; an old world, which consisted of three continents; a universe that revolved around the earth and the unity of the church. The insecurity and the threat of losing one’s existence really influenced these times. To protect themselves, people started using methods which were said to be used by witches, like magic and spells.
A variety of these you can be found in the area of the lower Elbe. From time to time you will be able to see a thunder or broomstick pattern made out of bricks in the walls. Especially in Otterndorf, you will be able to see the prettiest examples. What they mean is not really known. What we do know is that they where used as protection against different kinds of disasters, like lightning strokes, and probably also against curse spells and the plague. As a counterpart, you will find mills or grain ornaments, not in Otterndorf but in other communities along the lower Elbe. They were used to bring good luck and wealth.