Europadenkmal

The Europadenkmal is a monument in Bobenthal consisting of twelve sandstone steles arranged in a circle around a four-part fire roundel. The stones stand near the German-French border and create a clear geometric center at this location.

The monument dates to 1950, when hundreds of students from nine European nations gathered there and peacefully removed border barriers. Their action was a call for European unity in the years following World War Two.

Three flagpoles display the flags of Germany, France, and Europe, symbolizing the connection between these nations at the border. The arrangement shows how people here view themselves as part of a larger European community.

The monument is accessible at any time in an open landscape near the border. Information panels in three languages explain the history and meaning of the site for visitors.

The fire roundel is connected to four different European countries and was lit with the European fire during the 1950 student action. This symbolic flame represented hope for a borderless Europe radiating from that moment forward.