Uhlenköper, Bronze statue near St. Marien Church in Uelzen, Germany.
Uhlenköper is a bronze statue in Uelzen showing a trading scene with two men: one holds a sack containing an owl while the other counts coins. The roughly 2.2-meter artwork stands between St. Marien Church and the old town hall, serving as a central gathering point in the city.
Sculptor Karlheinz Goedtke created the bronze statue in 1967 as an artwork for the city. It is based on an old local story about a merchant who mistakenly thought he was buying owls instead of woodcock.
The name Uhlenköper refers to an old story about residents who mistakenly purchased owls instead of different poultry. The figure is still touched by visitors today who hope it brings good fortune.
The statue is located in central Uelzen, easy to reach while walking through the old town. The best time for photos is outside busy hours, when fewer people are gathered around the artwork.
According to local folklore, rubbing the coin in the statue while jingling money in your pocket is said to bring financial luck. This tradition is practiced by many visitors, which has polished the coin shiny over the years.
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