Frog tower

The Frog Tower is a monument in Mainz topped with an oversized frog sculpture made of glass-reinforced plastic, positioned above a glass-enclosed structure. The construction dates to the post-war period and stands beside the Werner & Mertz company complex.

The frog was erected in the 1950s as an advertising symbol for a shoe polish brand. After decades of exposure to weather, the sculpture underwent a major restoration in the 2010s that updated its structure and lighting systems.

The tower takes its name from the oversized frog figure that crowns it, once used to advertise Erdal shoe polish to passing travelers. Today the sculpture serves as a visible reminder of how companies branded themselves through striking public monuments.

The tower is easily visible from Rheinallee and can be visited during daytime or evening when the lighting is most striking. Access is straightforward, making it a good stop during a walk along the riverfront.

The sculpture required specialized restoration techniques developed specifically for this unusual industrial artwork. The restoration process revealed the technical challenges of balancing contemporary materials with its original design.