Lecture: magical building protection

A lecture on magical building protection will be held at De Couwenberg in Aarle-Rixtel.

The lecture is organized by the Barthold van Heessel Historical Society. Admission is free for members; non-members pay a small fee.

In the past, people didn't know what caused illness and misfortune. When the plague struck a village or people unexpectedly fell ill, people sought the cause in higher or evil powers. Belief and superstition played a major role in this. People tried to protect themselves with prayers, rituals, and symbols. This protection can still be found in old buildings. On churches, farms, and houses, you can see mason's marks, symbols in wall anchors, roof tiles, and half-timbering. Animal grilles on church doors and inscriptions were also part of these protective measures. These traces are still clearly visible in rural areas.

The lecture will be given by Marc Robben, a trained architect who is now retired. He has been researching symbols, superstition, and their relationship to buildings for many years. The topic was previously discussed in detail in the book "Magical Building Protection." The lecture offers a down-to-earth look at a unique subject and demonstrates how our ancestors tried to keep their living environment safe.