Menhir von Martinshöhe, Prehistoric stone monument in Martinshöhe, Germany.
The Menhir von Martinshöhe is a reddish sandstone block standing about 2.5 meters tall in a small park near the intersection of Am Wasserturm and Zweibrücker streets. The stone's surface displays clear vertical erosion channels that mark its age and long exposure to the elements.
The menhir first stood on the Rösberg near Langwieden, at the border with that parish, reportedly at twice its present height. It was later moved to a street in Martinshöhe, then across the road in front of the Theiß family's house, and probably in the 1940s to its present spot in a small park at the junction of Am Wasserturm and Zweibrücker Straße. It was shortened during its second relocation.
The stone carries several names: Römerstein refers to the supposed 'SPQR' inscription, Gollenstein is another traditional name, and 'S Theiße Stään ('the Theiß stone') comes from its stay in front of the Theiß family's house. The Palatine dialect form shows how locals adopted the stone into everyday speech.
The menhir stands in a small park at the junction where Am Wasserturm meets Zweibrücker Straße in Martinshöhe. It is a roadside spot with no gate or fence, so it can be viewed at any hour. The stone is 2.5 m tall and 1 m wide, so it is best seen from the open park side rather than from the street.
The stone once bore the inscription 'SPQR', the Latin abbreviation for Roman authority, which led to it being mistaken for a Roman marker for centuries. Although these markings have vanished, the legend of the so-called Römerstein endures in local tradition.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,621 contributors worldwide.