Brückenmännchen, Stone sculpture at Kennedybrücke in Bonn, Germany
Brückenmännchen is a stone sculpture mounted on the right tower of the Kennedybrücke, positioned above the pedestrian passage that crosses the Rhine. The figure stands at height on its pylon, facing across the water toward its female counterpart on the opposite side of the bridge.
Bonn residents independently funded and erected this sculpture in 1898 after their Beuel neighbors refused to contribute to the bridge construction. Following damage from World War II, the sculpture was restored and has since stood as part of the bridge's distinctive dual ornament.
The male figure represents Bonn's independent spirit, and you can see how it watches over the bridge from its perch on the tower. Across the way stands its female counterpart, a reminder of the playful competition that once divided the two riverbank communities.
The sculpture sits high on the bridge pylon, so it is best viewed from a distance or from the bridge itself as you pass by. Early morning or late afternoon light works better for photography due to the figure's elevated position and potential sun glare.
After World War II, a local innkeeper buried the original sculpture in his garden to save it from souvenir hunters who were stripping pieces from the bridge. In 2007, local craftspeople created faithful replicas based on historical photographs to restore the pair to its former position.
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