Gollenstein Monolith in Blieskastel

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