Gollenstein Monolith in Blieskastel

pictures

description

brief description: 

on the outskirts of the Baroque city of Blieskastel (also featured in the Location Guide), on top of the Blieskasteler hill, 310 metres above the ground, stands a prehistoric limestone colossus. At a height of 6,58 metres, the Gollenstein, the most prominent emblem of Blieskastel, is the tallest monolith in Central Europe and, thus, can be found in the Guinness Book of Records. With an approximate age of 4000 years, it is also among the most ancient cultural monuments in Germany. As it is supposed to have been erected some time between the New Stone Age and the Bronze Age (approximately 2000 - 1800 B.C.), it cannot be considered a menhir in the classical sense. Another 1000 - 1500 years had to pass before the first Celts appeared in this region. Most likely, the monolith was used as a religious cult site at the time. In the autumn of 1939, at the outset of the war, it was laid flat on the ground to avoid it being used as a marker or aiming point by the French artillery. Unfortunately, whilst being moved from his exposed position, the Gollenstein broke in two. Im November 1951, though, it was thankfully reassembled and put back in its original place

relevant filming facts

opening times: 
accessible to the public all year round
usage: 
lookout point, tourism
condition: 
weathered, partly restored
Background noise: 
quiet
surroundings: 
surrounded by fields, grasslands, and smaller forest areas, the Gollenstein stands on top of a hill on the outskirts of a residential area in the Baroque city of Blieskastel

accessibility

car: 
coming from Saarbrücken on the A6 motorway going in the direction of Mannheim, take the Fechingen exit and continue in the direction of Blieskastel. After you have entered the town of Blieskastel, turn left and follow the signposts indicating Gollenstein

supply

sanitary facilities: 
none
parking lot: 
sufficient spaces available
electricity supply: 
none
water supply: 
none

contact

Steffen Conrad