Monuments, Museum, House.

Ansbach is easily reached by rail or auto, about 25 miles southwest of Nürnberg.

The Hauser story is not as meaningful in psychology as it once was. Today we are more intrigued by the cases of Victor and Genie. At one time, however, Kaspar Hauser was presented as the prototypic feral child. However, unlike Genie or Victor, Kaspar did show rapid development of skills, including language, and during his few years as a member of society managed to write a short autobiography.

Kaspar Hauser surfaced in Nürnberg, Germany, in 1828, and was slain in Ansbach in 1833. The story of Kaspar has entered German legend, and still provides material for lively debate about the origins, early experiences, and death of this peculiar man. Was he a member of royalty, victimized by court intrigue over succession to the throne of Baden? The number of articles and books devoted to this case continues to grow. In November 1996, the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported in depth on an attempt at genetic matching of blood samples taken from Kaspar’s pants, with members of the royal family of which he might have been a member. Matching failed. However, reports in 2002 indicated that the sample in the original DNA matching research was flawed. New samples were obtained from the Feuerbach collection of Hauser artifacts. The results of new testing using the newly-acquired samples were positive. The newest conclusion seems to be that Kaspar was indeed of the royal family. The legend continues.

Monument in the Hofgarten, at site where Kaspar was stabbed, Ansbach

Ansbach, a lovely old court city, has developed a Kaspar Hauser industry. Hauser aficionados will want to view the monument in the Hofgarten near the spot where Kaspar was stabbed, the well-tended and well-marked gravesite in the cemetery, and the double-figured statue of Kaspar erected in 1980 by the Lions’ Club. Then there is the house where Kaspar lived, a separate collection of memorabilia, and the Kaspar Hauser festival day in August! That’s a lot of Hauser!

Double statue of Kaspar, old city center, Ansbach

During my very short visit to Ansbach, I was not able to visit either the house or the museum.

The Hofgarten monument with its mysterious inscription to Kaspar, off to the east of the old city center, is of interest, as is the statue near the center of the old city. The statue, located along the diminutive Platenstrasse, depicts two images of Kaspar, one as a bent, disfigured youth at the time he first surfaced, and the other as a civilized, citified young man of very few years later. Off to the west of the old city center, the inscription at the gravesite continues the theme of the mystery surrounding Kaspar. All these sites are within walking radius of the center of the city, although in different directions. Friedhof Heilig-Kreuz (Holy Cross cemetery) to the west lies most distant from the center, part way up a somewhat steep hill. One might want to taxi to the cemetery, although the downhill walk on return is easily managed.

Kaspar’s well-tended gravesite, Ansbach, Germany

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weblinks for Kaspar Hauser