Here stands the Kleverschusskreuz. It is a silent witness to centuries of faith, legends, and even a bit of controversy in Lübeck.
This stone cross marks a path. It guided pilgrims to the Wunderblutkirche in Bad Wilsnack. That is a town about 135 kilometers away as the crow flies.
Let us step back in time. Imagine the 15th century. Lübeck is a bustling Hanseatic city. Word spreads of miraculous blood-soaked hosts in Wilsnack. Pilgrims flock there seeking solace and blessings.
Now picture a Lübeck citizen. His name is Johann von der Heyde. In 1436, he commissions this cross. It is made of Gotland limestone. He places it at a fork in the roads leading to Wismar and Brandenburg. Today, those roads are Arnimstrasse and Marlistrasse.
Feel the rough texture of the stone. It is weathered by time. See the faint inscription in Middle Low German. It reads “biddet got for den ghever des wisers na der wilsnak.” This translates to “Pray to God for the founder of the signpost to Wilsnack.”
Look closely at the center of the cross arms. You can make out the pilgrim symbol of Wilsnack. It is three hosts in circles. Pilgrims believed that walking one mile to the Wunderblutkirche barefoot earned them a day’s absolution.
Notice the three holes on the right arm of the Kleverschusskreuz. They point away from the city. Legend says they are bullet holes. They are tied to a story about a merchant’s assistant. His name was Hans Klever. He was accused of murdering his friend. He claimed it was an accident.
Klever was imprisoned in the Absalonsturm. That was near the Hüxtertor. To prove his innocence and skill, he shot at the cross. He hit it three times. There is no real evidence that the holes are from bullets. But the name stuck. The Kleverschusskreuz. Klever’s shot cross.
The Reformation changed everything. In 1552, the first Lutheran clergyman of Wilsnack burned the blood hosts. Wilsnack’s importance as a pilgrimage site waned.
The Kleverschusskreuz faced more hardship. In 1963, a car crashed into it. The cross broke in two. During restoration, restorers inserted a metal clamp. They added a stone support to the back.
See how this cross differs from others. It is a ring cross. That is a form rarely found in Germany. The Ansveruskreuz near Ratzeburg is the only other one in this region. These types of crosses are more common in Celtic areas and Gotland.
The Kleverschusskreuz stands a few meters from its original spot. After restoration in 1966, it was moved to the west side of Roeckstrasse. It now stands opposite Krügerstrasse. It stands between the road and the sidewalk. An alley tree protects it.
Think about the people who passed this way. Pilgrims seeking miracles. Merchants traveling trade routes. A man accused of murder seeking to prove his innocence. The Kleverschusskreuz is more than just a stone marker. It is a reminder of faith, legend, and the enduring power of stories.