Longin Wittig’s nativity scene

About the exposition

The mechanical nativity scene in Vambeřice from the 19th century is exhibited in a small house at the foot of the Calvary and is administered by the Parish of Vambeřice. It was built by the Iocal locksmith Longin Wittig with the help of his son Herman. He started building the moving nativity scene in 1850, when he still lived in the village of Góra Św. Anny, he moved to Vambeřice in 1882. He worked on the nativity scene for over 28 years.

The nativity scene consists of more than 800 colored figures, 300 of which are movable, and move thanks to clockwork. The thematic scenes of the nativity represent, for example, Massacre of the Innocents, the Holy Family at Work, 12-year Christ in a sanctuary, the Last Supper or the Revelation Madonna of Lourdes. In addition to scenes and biblical figures, there are also scenes typical of the surroundings of Vambeřice in the 19th century, such as a scene from the coal mine. The architectural decoration is reminiscent of the city’s surroundings.

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