tourism
New Loreley statue unveiled on the Middle Rhine
The newly designed Loreley statue on the Loreley plateau high above the Rhine has opened. photo
© Thomas Frey/dpa
Now the secret of the new Loreley statue has been revealed. The female figure is solemnly shown on the rock.
A new statue is enthroned on the famous Loreley rock plateau on the Middle Rhine. The figure, created by the Berlin artist Valerie Otte, was ceremonially unveiled on Saturday.
The 2.20 meter high bronze statue clearly won in a vote by citizens of the Rhineland-Palatinate association of municipalities. The female figure sits on a rock and seems to merge with it. Her long hair ends up in a river, in whose waves boats capsize. The statue stands at the end point of the ray path running to the crag.
State Interior Minister Michael Ebling spoke of a “further highlight” that makes the myth of the Loreley even more tangible. “Today, the Loreley plateau is probably one of the best-known viewpoints in Rhineland-Palatinate and a popular travel destination for people from near and far to enjoy the Loreley natural monument and spectacular views of the valley,” emphasized the SPD politician, according to a statement.
Unesco World Heritage since 2022
According to the ministry, in 2021 the municipality of Loreley received funding of 68,000 euros, followed in 2022 by further funding of 105,000 euros for the implementation of the winning design. “The Loreley is part of this story and the Upper Middle Rhine Valley has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2022,” said Ebling. For this reason, too, the state government was happy to support the erection of the statue.
There are many legends and myths surrounding the Loreley. According to legend, she combs her golden hair on the rock above the Rhine and uses it to lure foreign boatmen against the dangerous rocks.
For local fishermen, on the other hand, it shows the way. The Loreley plateau near St. Goarshausen has been the epitome of Rhine romance since the 19th century. The stream forces its way through a bottleneck that is only around 130 meters wide but around 20 meters deep.