SECOND ENGAGEMENT AT THE SEPULCHRAL CHAPEL IN STUTTGART

With its temple-like structure and imposing steps, surrounded by winding paths and vineyards, it is considered one of the most romantic places in Baden-Württemberg: the burial chapel on the Württemberg east of Stuttgart. King Wilhelm I had it built as a burial place for his wife, Queen Katharina, who died only three years after their wedding. For the second time since 1999, experts from Kärcher are now cleaning the stairs leading up to the chapel as part of the company's cultural sponsorship, freeing them from dirt, lichen, algae and moss.

"Just in time for the start of the new season, the stairs will shine again in their new, old splendour," explains Patricia Alberth, Managing Director of the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg. "We thank Kärcher for their active support and are sure that visitors will appreciate the fresh appearance of the burial chapel."
"I am pleased that we can contribute to the preservation of an important cultural monument in Stuttgart by cleaning the burial chapel. It is important to us to preserve this place for future generations," says Klaus Hirschle, Managing Director of Alfred Kärcher Vertriebs-GmbH.

Three Kärcher experts were on site for a week to clean the steps. A test cleaning was carried out in advance to get an idea of the condition of the sandstone and the best possible cleaning method. In consultation with the Lower Monument Protection Authority in Stuttgart, the gentle steam stage of a hot water high-pressure cleaner was chosen as the cleaning method. "It is important that we work with a low impact pressure of only 0.5 to 1 bar and mainly with steam," says Sebastian Nann, who is responsible for the cleaning campaign at Kärcher. "The dirt is mainly loosened by the high temperature of the steam, which is about 95 degrees Celsius on the stone surface. This type of cleaning is very gentle and does not damage the original substance of the stairs."

Another advantage of cleaning with hot steam is that the seeds and spores present in the stone spores are killed by the high temperature, which delays re-growth. As the availability of electricity and water directly at the chapel is sometimes difficult, the Kärcher team works with a self-sufficient hot water high-pressure trailer, which can be used without an electricity or water connection thanks to its own tank for water and the integrated motor.

Back in 1999, Kärcher cleaned the burial chapel using the same method. "Even then, the same method was used. We wanted to continue the cooperation for the renewed cleaning and contacted Kärcher again," reports Christiane Grau, who is the third generation of monument stewards of the chapel.

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