Facts and Figures


Foundation

In the early 1930's Ferdinand Pöttmesser, a crib maker from South Tyrol, built a giant Christmas crib with hundreds of figures which he exhibited in South Tyrol, Tyrol and Upper Italy with great success. In 1953 he sold the figures to Einsiedeln.

Taking the Pöttmesser figures as the starting point Dr. William Döderlein, curator of the Bavarian National Museum in Munich, created the concept of the Christmas crib for the Diorama Bethlehem. The plastic landscape was created by the sculptor Reinhold Zellner of Munich. The background which measures more than 30 m was painted by Bartholomew Wappmannsberger of Prien/Chiemsee.

Great stress was put on creating an exact copy of the environs of Bethlehem and to represent the birth of Christ according to biblical tradition. Thanks to the professional skills of the artist involved and their excellent co-operation this goal was achieved in a impressive way. The inauguration of the Diorama Bethlehem took place in 1954.

The map of Judaea on the front of the building was painted in 1958 by Bartholomew Wappmannsberger.


Ownership

The Diorama Bethlehem was founded as a commercial business in 1953 by Karl Eberle together with his brothers Adelrich and Joseph and his brother-in-law Albert Birchler under the name of "Neues Diorama Bethlehem Ltd".

In 2005 Dr. Adelrich Eberle incorporated the "Diorama Bethlehem Foundation" to which he donated all the shares of the Ltd. company.

>The Diorama Bethlehem is financially independent and receives no public funds.


Media Coverage

It comes as no surprise that the largest Christmas crib in the world gets the attention of the media. The most notable reports are listed below:

Media Issue Date Form of publication
Turicum - December 1973 / February 1974 pictorial report
Neue Zürcher Zeitung 253 21. / 22. December 1974 pictorial report
Schweizer Familie 52 December 1974 pictorial report
Schweizer Illustrierte 52 24. December 1979 pictorial report
Coop-Zeitung 51 22. December 1988 pictorial report
Swiss Television DRS - Weihnachtsmosaik 24. Dec. 1992 film report


Technical Information

Figures

Number approx. 470
Size 5 cm - 40 cm
Material wood, textile clothing

Background

Length 35 m
Depth 5.5 m in the middle, 2.5 m lateral
Ground rough-cast

Plastic Landscape

Area approx. 80 m²
Material sacking, plaster
Substructure wood, wire-netting

Illumination

Type spotlight PAR 38, daylight lamps
Filters various yellow filters, red and blue filters for visual effects
Power 2800 Watt


Interesting websites about christmas cribs

Christmas cribs in the Internet has some background information about cribs and a link list. top

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Diorama Bethlehem
CH-8840 Einsiedeln

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