Eiserner Mann, Iron pillar in Kottenforst-Ville Nature Park, Germany
Eiserner Mann is a cast iron pillar in Kottenforst-Ville Nature Park near Alfter. The structure rises around 120 centimeters above ground level and sits on a T-shaped base buried roughly one meter below the surface.
A document from 1625 mentions the pillar as a boundary marker between Alfter and Heimerzheim. Prince Elector Clemens had it moved to its current location in 1727, where several forest paths meet.
The iron pillar sparked discussions among researchers about medieval engineering capabilities and material science developments in historical Germany.
The pillar stands at a path junction deep inside the nature park and serves as an orientation point for hikers. Access is through several narrow forest trails that converge at this spot.
Metallurgical tests conducted during the 1970s showed the pillar was cast in an earth trench. This medieval technique explains why it shows little rust despite centuries of exposure to the weather.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
