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All Germany Schwerin Henry the Lion Monument

Henry the Lion Monument

A city's controversial tribute to its founder depicts townspeople flashing their bare behinds.

Schwerin, Germany

Added By
Luis Morato
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The “bottom parade.”   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The “bottom parade.”   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
View of one of the side of the column.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Henry the Lion (Heinrich der Löwe) Monument in Schwerin, Germany.   Ввласенко/CC BY-SA 3.0
View of the monument of the Lion in front of the cathedral.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In front of the cathedral in Schwerin’s Market Square, there’s a strange monument that features a lion prowling atop a single pillar. Each side of the monument shows curious scenes associated with Henry the Lion, the city’s founder. One scene stands out more than others, as it depicts the duke riding through a bizarre passageway lined with people flashing their buttocks.

During his lifetime, Henry, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony, was one of the most powerful men in his region of the world. He founded the city of Schwerin in 1160, and also founded other cities like Munich (1157) and Lübeck (1159). During his reign, his territory spanned from the coasts of the North and Baltic seas all the way to the Alps.

The lion on the top of the monument references Henry’s heraldic animal. The reliefs on the sides of the pillar show several episodes from the duke’s conquests—and one scene depicting a row of several bare butts. This strange inclusion is an artistic representation of something Henry allegedly encountered while on a military campaign.

Legend has it that when Henry the Lion arrived in the town of Bardowick, its residents received him with their pants pulled down to reveal their bare behinds. They formed this “bottom parade” to express their anger at the Duke's trade policy. During his reign, Henry had promoted Schwerin and Lübeck as important trading places, causing Bardowick to lose its prestige, much to the contempt of its citizenry.

The nearly 15-foot-tall monument and its four reliefs were built by the satirical (and often controversial) German sculptor Peter Lenk in 1995 to honor the 800th anniversary of Henry the Lion’s death.

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Monuments Royalty History Animals Legends Statues

Know Before You Go

The monument is located in the heart of Schwerin, the little capital of Mecklenburg. It's a close walk to the central station, which is well connected to Berlin and Hamburg by train.

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

October 2, 2017

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lenk
  • https://www.schwerin.com/en/attractions-and-sights/the-historic-city-center/loewendenkmal-am-markt-english/index.html
  • http://cherylhoward.com/2015/04/26/schwerin-photos/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_the_Lion
  • http://www.moz.de/artikel-ansicht/dg/0/1/1266636
  • https://www.flickr.com/photos/donachadhu/22666961975/in/photolist-dg2tJd-dKJJfA-gV5sc8-gV5f6U-dDrSjS-h1Kz23-8zNdUk-8zRmr7-dDrPQf-dDmrai-dDmtGM-8zRmx7-dDrQmw-dDrPjj-8zNdHT-dDrT4S-Ax176e-dDrFMs-dDrF5L-dDrPAu-6MranS-Lrx1kM-KBCkjD-Lvuww5-dDsboN
Henry the Lion Monument
Am Markt
Schwerin
Germany
53.628826, 11.414548
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Nearby Places

The Ducal Family Crypt in the Church of St. Nikolai

Schwerin, Germany

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Schwerin Lenin

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Photo of Schwerin

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