Roland, Heritage monument in Wedel, Germany
The Roland statue in Wedel is a stone figure standing on a brick base and made from 32 blocks of Obernkirchen sandstone. It holds a sword and imperial orb and stands in the town's market square, facing south.
The statue was erected in 1558 to replace an earlier market symbol and underwent multiple restorations, particularly after the Thirty Years War in 1653. These repairs helped the monument survive through the centuries.
This figure represents the market rights and privileges of the medieval town, serving as the central symbol in Wedel's coat of arms, municipal flag, and official seal. You can see how this monument shapes the town's identity and appears in many public symbols.
The monument stands in Wedel's market square and is easy to reach on foot, as it sits in the heart of the town center. Visitors can view the inscriptions on its rear side and photograph it from various angles.
During restoration work, the statue received a fresh paint scheme and partial gilding that gave the monument renewed appearance. The base contains a concrete core with a possibly inaccurate coat of arms from a later period.
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