Bischofsgrab unter dem Zeughaus

The remains were discovered beneath the foundations of what was once the city’s most important church, St. George’s, which, together with the associated Premonstratensian monastery, formed the religious center of Stade during the Middle Ages. The monks of this order had a significant influence on life in the city—among other things, they founded Stade’s first hospital, thereby contributing to the city’s social development from an early stage. When the Swedes built the Baroque armory in 1698, they constructed over the site of the old church, thereby unintentionally preserving a piece of the city’s history. According to archaeological findings, the archbishop’s grave—where his body was encased in a leather bag—is considered a temporary resting place on the way to Bremen Cathedral, which served as the actual burial site for the archbishops of Bremen. Today, the reconstructed excavation site beneath the Armory is open to the public. Modern information panels and multimedia installations vividly illustrate the fascinating connection between archaeology, religion, and the city’s history.