Didn’t expect to find Hamburg’s tribute to Friedrich Schiller here in Harburg, did you? This isn’t just any monument, it’s the Schiller-Büste. Hamburg recognized the great writer Friedrich Schiller. But so did Harburg.
At the time of its creation, Harburg wasn’t part of Hamburg yet. It belonged to the Kingdom of Hanover. They too wanted to honor the poet and philosopher. The Schiller-Büste was conceived as the crowning glory of a fountain. Ernst von Bandel created it.
Bandel is also known for the Hermann Monument. The fountain was dismantled in 1927. The Schiller-Büste was then moved to Hamburg’s Stadtpark. It stood there until 1996. Then it was returned to its original location.
Now, it sits on a very high pillar. Trees surround it. This makes it hard to view in full sunlight. The monument is somewhat hidden. Even the Schloßmühlendamm’s proximity doesn’t help much. Perhaps visitors to the nearby weekly market are most likely to notice Schiller.
If you look closely at the stone pillar, you’ll see Schiller’s name engraved directly under the bust. Below that, there’s a two-paragraph history of the bust. It states that this bust by Ernst von Bandel served as a fountain adornment on the Sande from 1860 and was placed here in 1927 in the Stadtpark. It further notes its return to the Sande in 1996 as part of the Harburg Art Trail.
The Schiller-Denkmal is one of 27 objects on the Harburg Art Trail. This trail was established in 1994. So, while it might be a bit hidden, the Schiller-Büste has quite the story. It has moved from a fountain to a park and back again. It is a testament to Schiller’s enduring legacy.