Interactive Plans

In addition to access to the information contained in the Lorsch Codex via the edition and translation as well as the alphabetical location list, interactive, spatial access via maps and plans is offered.

Please note the limitations associated with the forms of presentation and the preparation of the data. Due to the large number of objects to be displayed, the construction of the interactive maps on Google Maps and OpenStreetMap may be delayed.

The places and locations mentioned in the Lorsch Codex have undergone numerous changes since the Middle Ages. Not infrequently they consist today of sub-villages (Unter-, Ober-, Klein-, Groß-, Vorder-, Hinter- etc.). Since in these cases the historical place name cannot always be definitively assigned to one of today's sub-villages, both parts of the village are sometimes displayed as hits.

1. Map views in Google Maps

The approx. 1,300 places and locations mentioned in the Codex, to which approximate coordinates were assigned, can be displayed in Google Maps (link 1).

The geographic distribution of the approx. 1,150 possession places, which can be viewed via link 2 – including Hattem in the Netherlands in the north, Reams in Switzerland in the south, Ebach in Middle Franconia in the east as well as Cortryk in Belgium in the west – illustrates the enormous extension of the possessions of Lorsch Monastery from the 8th century until around 1100.

2. Map views in OpenStreetMap

If you prefer to view the map views via the open platform "OpenStreetMap", please use the adjacent links. Here, too, either all places and locations mentioned in the Lorsch Codex can be visualised (link 1) or only those locations noted as places of possession (link 2).

Unfortunately, OpenStreetMap does not allow the integration of the symbols listed under point 4. A differentiation as with Google Maps or Google Earth is therefore not possible.

3. Map views in Google Earth

Further possibilities of the experimental visualisation are opened by the integration of the determined georeferences to the Lorsch Codex in Google Earth.

Prerequisites for this are:

The installation of Google Earth on the local computer.
The integration of the KML files available for download here

The current KML files for Google Earth can be found via the following data publication doi:10.11588/data/10063

Functionalities in Google Earth

Terrain with elevation

To get an impression of the terrain, an elevation gain can be set in Google Earth. (Via "Tools/Options" under "Terrain". Set the elevation gain to the desired value between 0 and 3. To tilt the map view, click on the arrow above the eye symbol in the upper right corner within the compass and set the desired angle).

Time slider

In Google Earth, the recorded time data can be displayed chronologically using the time slider (top left in Google Earth). For the places in the Lorsch Codex time spans were recorded: starting point in each case is the first mention of the place in the documents and end time is the current year.

Historical maps

In order to facilitate orientation in the pre-industrial landscape, the integration of historical maps is being tested in the georeferencing project with the HGIS Club. These can also help to locate abandoned settlements (deserted villages) via field names.

Currently, the „Map of the German Empire" from 1893 can be used, which is made available by the David Rumsey Map Collection. The 674 individual maps at a scale of 1:100,000 were scanned in at a very high resolution and digitally assembled to form a huge overall map, which, printed out, would measure about 12 x 10 meters. As part of the project, the printed, two-dimensional form of the map was projected back onto the earth's surface so that the location of the places named on the map now corresponds to their actual position on the virtual globe.

In addition, sheet 7 (Heidelberg) of the "Topographical Map of the Grand Duchy of Baden" from 1841 can be displayed in the Google Earth view. To display the historical maps, please tick the respective map in the left navigation bar under "Maps".