DER ANDERMATTER Sommer 2017

AUF DEN SPUREN VON HANS TEILING
ON THE TRAIL OF HANS TEILING
Die Apsis von San Nicolao mit einem spätgotischen Fresko.
The apse of San Nicolao with its late Gothic fresco.
contested spot: in those days, the Leventina Valley was pledged to Uri by
Milan. However, the agreement was thwarted with ever-increasing intensity
by the Lords of Lombardy. On 28 December 1478, the Milanese government
sent the military leader Marsilio Torello with 10,000 men into the Leventina,
to restore the valley to Lombard ownership. Despite being significantly
outnumbered, the Uri defenders managed to triumph by stealth and hold the
Leventina Valley. To find out more about the remarkable history of the region,
it is worth making a trip to Casa Stanga and the adjacent Casa Clemente,
both with richly decorated facades, in the historical heart of the village. These
houses contain the Leventina Museum (“Museo di Leventina”), which conveys
an impression of the valley’s turbulent past through historical documents,
photographs and interactive games.
On historical pathways
As well as the fabulous Italian food, seven picturesque churches also testify
to the influence of past Milanese power. On the right bank of the Ticino
stands the enchanting church of San Nicolao, with its Lombard Romanesque
architecture and fantastic mythical figures in the capitals. From the church
square you can see the church of Santa Maria del Castello, standing on a hill
as the last relic of a once powerful Milanese fort. The other places of worship
include San Pellegrino, San Marco, Santa Maria dei Loreto and the parish
church of San Michele, offering personal moments of tranquillity to any visitor.
Alongside these spiritual focal points, Giornico is characterised by architecturally
interesting structures from the Middle Ages, such as the stables with
their enchanted frescoes or the square tower once inhabited by Bishop Atto
of Vercelli from the 14th century.
«Sechshundert gegen zehntausend! Lasst es euch
auf der Zunge zergehen, denn morgen werden wir
kämpfen!» Mit diesen leidenschaftlichen Worten
wendete sich der Kriegsheld Hans Teiling im 15. Jahrhundert
an seine Mitstreiter in der Schlacht von
Giornico. Kühn stellten sich die Eidgenossen in der
Leventina den 10'000 lombardischen Kämpfern
entgegen und kämpften unerschrocken für die
Freiheit der Schweiz. Der historische Roman «Winterhelden»
von Thomas Vaucher lässt die unruhige
Vergangenheit Giornicos aufleben. Er versetzt den
Leser in eine Zeit zurück, in der die heute historischen
Gebäude noch von Livinern bewohnt wurden,
Säumer im Dorf Rast einlegten und das idyllische
Dörfchen Zeuge des eidgenössischen Triumphs im
Jahre 1487 wird. Mehr zum Autor Thomas Vaucher und
seinem historischen Roman «Winterhelden» gibt es
unter www.thomasvaucher.ch.
“Six hundred against ten thousand! Savour the moment,
for tomorrow we fight!” With these passionate words,
the 15th century war hero Hans Teiling addressed his
fellow combatants at the Battle of Giornico. The Swiss in
the Leventina boldly confronted the 10,000 Lombard
soldiers and fought unflinchingly for the freedom of
Switzerland. The historical novel “Winterhelden” (“Winter
Heroes”) by Thomas Vaucher brings Giornico’s turbulent
history to life. It transports the reader back to a time
when the now-historical buildings were inhabited by the
people of Leventina, drovers rested in the village overnight
and the idyllic little town witnessed the Swiss
triumph of 1487. For more on the author Thomas Vaucher
and his historical novel “Winterhelden”, see www.thomasvaucher.ch.
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