Schusterjunge von Weißenfels, Bronze statue in Stadtpark, Weißenfels, Germany
The Schusterjunge von Weißenfels is a bronze figure standing 1.40 meters tall on a pedestal inscribed with 'Weil's mich freut' in the city park. It portrays a young shoemaker from the region's working past.
Sculptor Paul Jukoff created this figure in 1905 as a commission from a baby carriage manufacturer based in Zeitz. A second version was later cast specifically for Weißenfels.
The statue depicts a young shoemaker and honors the craft traditions that shaped Weißenfels over centuries. The inscription 'Weil's mich freut' on the pedestal conveys a positive attitude toward life that reflects the spirit of this working town.
This figure is located in the city park and can be reached through various pathways that connect different quarters of the town. The park remains accessible during daylight hours throughout the year.
During World War II, an unidentified resident saved the statue from being seized for metal recycling by hiding it away. The exact location of this hiding place remains unclear, whether in a monastery cellar or buried somewhere in Leißling Forest.
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