Lapidarium Willrode, Boundary stone collection at Forsthaus Willroda, Erfurt, Germany

The Lapidarium Willrode is an open-air collection of historic boundary and cadastral stones on the western courtyard of the Forsthaus Willroda near Erfurt, set up in 2009 by the Thuringian branch of the DVW. Around thirteen stones stand with detailed explanatory panels, and maps and lists explain the abbreviations of the former territories. Many stones are turned so that their inscribed face points toward the territory named on them.

The boundary stones come from the period when Prussia, Saxony-Gotha, and other territories controlled the region and had to physically mark their borders. This fragmented arrangement ended when Thuringia was formed as a unified state in 1920.

The initials on the stones name the ruling power: KP stands for the Kingdom of Prussia, HG for the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha. Many stones were set so that the inscribed face points toward the territory it refers to. Other markers carry the initials of a district or a running number.

The site is located several kilometers southeast of Erfurt and is reachable by car or bus, though it lies somewhat outside the city center. The stones are displayed outdoors and accessible for viewing at any time.

Beneath each of these visible stones, additional markers were buried that documented ownership information and could later verify the original position. These hidden markings show how seriously rulers took their borders and how permanent they intended them to be.