Have you ever wondered how far you’ve traveled? It’s not every day you see a stone marking ten thousand meters! Right here in Cologne, stands the Myriameterstein, a testament to the history of measuring the Rhine River.
You see it there, beside the Leinpfad, nestled between Weiβ and Rodenkirchen. This cube-shaped stone is a remnant of the 19th century when the Rhine was straightened and measured. The Myriameterstein stands tall, about eighty centimeters high with edges measuring sixty centimeters. On top, a small, four-sided pyramid rises a mere five centimeters. Its four sides are all inscribed with important information.
The Myriameterstein was placed here in 1867, marking 51 Myriameters (510 Kilometers) from Basel, and 314.45 Kilometers from Rotterdam. The inscription on the side facing the river details the stone’s number as LI in Roman numerals, marking fifty-one times ten thousand meters. The Myriameterstein was created by an international commission, born from the Vienna Congress of 1814/1815.
The Central Commission for Rhine Shipping, as it was called, brought together representatives from Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, all with a vested interest in the efficient transportation of goods along the Rhine. The measuring stone is a reminder of this international cooperation.
The stone was initially part of a system of markers placed every ten thousand meters (ten kilometers) along the Rhine, from Basel to Rotterdam. After 1883, however, these stones were replaced with kilometer markers. Despite the change, some of these historic Myriametersteine still remain, like the one here in Cologne. This stone is unique as it is the only surviving Myriameterstein on the left side of the Rhine in Cologne.
It’s hard to imagine the journey of goods along the river, the bustling trade, and the importance of accurate measurements in the 19th century. But standing here in front of this stone, a powerful reminder of that era, you can start to grasp the long history of the Rhine and the vital role it played in connecting people and cultures.