Attraction · Detmold · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Hermann Memorial in Detmold

Hermann Memorial is an attraction in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia. This place has an audio tour of about 3 minutes, in English or Dutch. 1 of the 33 well-known points of interest nearby is within 1 km. Within 200 m you'll find a bench and a public toilet.

Directions in Google Maps

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Audio tour · Hermann Memorial

2:45

You're standing on the Grotenburg, a wooded hill in the Teutoburg Forest, at the foot of the Hermannsdenkmal. Go on, look up. The whole monument rises more than 53 metres, and the figure itself is the tallest statue in Germany. Until the Statue of Liberty came along, it was the tallest in the entire Western world.

Read and hear the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Wheelchair: Not accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

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Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 deView the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hermann Memorial in Detmold: Germany's tallest statue

The Hermann Memorial in Detmold is a major attraction dating from 1875. The monument is known for being the tallest statue in the country. The statue depicts Hermann, a leader who lured legions into an ambush in the year 9. You will find the hermann memorial in Detmold on the Grotenburg, a wooded hill with another attraction close by.

What you can see at the Hermann Memorial

You are standing at the foot of this monument, which rises just over 53 metres. The figure is made up of roughly 200 copper plates fixed around an iron frame. The giant wears a winged helmet and looks towards the west. His left foot rests on an eagle, and on his raised sword is a golden motto about unity. Beneath the statue stands a round temple with 10 columns, niches bearing inscriptions and a relief of Wilhelm I. A spiral staircase of 75 steps takes you up to a walkway with views over the forests. Nearby is the Bandelhütte, a hut with a small exhibition about the monument.

The history of the Hermann Memorial

Ernst von Bandel designed this monument. He began building it in 1838, and the work was not finished until 1875. When donations dried up, Von Bandel paid for the project himself, and this cost him almost his entire fortune. Emperor Wilhelm I unveiled the statue on 16 August 1875. A year later, the designer died.

Drinking water, toilets and benches at the Hermann Memorial

You will find 47 benches within 500 metres of the monument. The nearest of these benches to the Hermann Memorial in Detmold is 25 metres away, at Grotenburg. There is a public toilet at the Hermann Memorial in Detmold, 203 metres away, also at Grotenburg. This public toilet is wheelchair accessible. Within 500 metres, it is the only public toilet. According to our map, there is no drinking water at the Hermann Memorial in Detmold within a 1 km radius.

Walks and more to see nearby

You will find this attraction at a height of 41 metres, at the Grotenburg. On site, you can listen to an audio story about the Hermannsdenkmal in the Outdoor Pitstop app. The story lasts 2 minutes, so you can listen to it while you walk around the monument. The app helps you find more information about this place. Use the map in the app to discover other stops in the area.

Facilities near Hermann Memorial

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No water point, bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

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Walks within 2 km

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Cycle routes within 5 km

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Frequently asked questions

How high is the Hermann Memorial?

The monument is just over 53 metres high in total.

Who designed the Hermann Memorial in Detmold?

The monument was designed by Ernst von Bandel.

Where can I find a toilet at the Hermann Memorial in Detmold?

There is a wheelchair-accessible public toilet 203 metres away at the Grotenburg.

Are there benches at the Hermann Memorial in Detmold?

Yes, the nearest bench is 25 metres away at the Grotenburg.

Is there drinking water at the Hermann Memorial in Detmold?

No, there is no water tap within a 1 km radius.