Passauer Tölpel, Stone sculpture in Passau, Germany
The Passauer Tölpel is a stone sculpture of a large head with short hair, wide eyes, and thick smiling lips mounted on a wall near St. Stephen's Cathedral. The work displays realistic facial features and appears almost lifelike despite its solid stone construction in its current location.
The head originally came from a cathedral decoration that fell during a major city fire in 1662 and was possibly damaged by musket fire on Corpus Christi Day. Later, a priest connected this name to the city's inhabitants after observing their particular habits and characteristics.
The sculpture carries a name that has been linked to the city since the 17th century, rooted in local tradition and how people view themselves. Today it serves as a familiar symbol that visitors encounter when exploring Passau's character and past.
The sculpture is easy to find at the corner of Steinweg and Domplatz, where it has been mounted on a public building wall since 2003. It sits close to the cathedral, so a visit fits naturally with exploring the cathedral square and its surroundings.
According to local legend, the head lost its body but kept its broad smile, captured in a verse that playfully suggests a certain weakness in the mind. This humorous tale transforms the work from a mere artifact into a cherished piece of city folklore.
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