Kaiser-Wilhelm-Denkmal, Monument on Venusberg hill, Bonn, Germany
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Denkmal is a monument in Bonn made of basalt columns up to 8 meters high arranged in a pyramid shape behind a memorial stone of sandstone and granite. The structure stands surrounded by forest and creates a distinctive outline visible from several directions.
The monument was unveiled on March 23, 1897 to mark 100 years since Kaiser Wilhelm I's birth, a moment of national pride in Germany. Many similar memorials were built across the German lands during this era of monument construction.
Local people call this monument the "Asparagus Memorial" because the tall columns look like asparagus stalks rising from the forest. This nickname is used more often than the official name in everyday conversation.
The monument can be reached by following marked hiking trails, especially via Hauweg and Rosenburgweg paths that connect to the larger Bonn forest network. Walking is the best way to access it, and the surrounding area is good for longer forest walks.
The structure features a bronze portrait of the monarch combined with neoromanesque architectural elements, which makes it architecturally distinctive. This style mixing was common for monuments of that era but was often overlooked in later discussions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
