Erlkönig, Cultural heritage monument in Jena, Germany

The Erlkönig in Jena is a stone monument standing in the Saale floodplain before a rock wall on the path from Wenigenjena to Kunitz. It depicts an over-life-size old man with a long beard and robe, his hand stretched out over a pond below; a sword once held in his right hand was reattached during a restoration but later removed or destroyed by unknown persons.

The monument began as a wooden sculpture by Theodor Wolff. In 1891, Wolf von Tümpling, owner of Schloss Thalstein, commissioned a stone replacement carved by Wilhelm Otto Späte. The over-life-size figure stands before a rock wall in the Saale floodplain on the path from Wenigenjena to Kunitz. On 27 April 1990 the surrounding 0.6-hectare area was protected as a Flächennaturdenkmal.

The monument shows the supernatural character from Goethe's ballad, touching on themes of nature and mortality in German literature. The figure by the path reminds visitors of this classic poetic story that runs deep in German culture.

The monument is easy to reach since it sits right on the popular Saale bike trail and is accessible by bicycle. The informational plaque at the site gives visitors the details they need without requiring any preparation beforehand.

Local stories link the location to Goethe's inspiration, claiming the poet learned the tale from a farmer at the nearby Grüne Tanne inn. This connection between the monument and Goethe's personal experience makes it especially meaningful for those interested in German literature.