Bederkesaer Roland

The Bederkesa Roland is a stone knight figure standing 1.90 meters tall on a 1.45-meter pedestal, dressed in turquoise Renaissance armor and holding a drawn sword. The figure has been relocated multiple times and now stands in the courtyard of Bederkesa Castle.

This statue was created between 1599 and 1604, possibly by Bremen sculptor Lüder von Bentheim, and first appeared in written records in 1736. Since then it has undergone several relocations within and around Bederkesa Castle, reflecting the place's long history as a symbol of authority.

The figure displays the imperial double eagle emblem on its shield, and four lions on the pedestal carry various coat of arms from Bremen. These symbols reflect the location's connection to important Hanseatic cities and their political authority.

The monument is located in the castle courtyard and is accessible from outside, so viewing requires no special arrangements. Visitors should plan to see it during daylight hours to properly appreciate the fine details of the armor and heraldic symbols.

The current pedestal was assembled in 1953 from demolished stones from Bremen, connecting the figure to a larger region. This rebuilding shows how local monuments preserve connections between places by using material traces of their shared history.