Did you ever hear of a father’s grief turning into a towering monument of love? Right here, before us, stands the Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk. It’s not about a war, but a heartbreaking loss. This almost eight-meter-high Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk was erected in 1800 by Senator Jacob von Axen. It commemorates his daughter, Catharina Margaretha, who died of consumption at the young age of 26. She passed away after visiting her sister in Berlin. While she is buried in Berlin’s Luisenkirche, her father chose this spot, her favorite place, near the Heckenrosenweg, for the Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk. Lokstedt, first mentioned in 1110, transformed from a farming village into a summer retreat for wealthy Hamburg merchants by the 18th century. Von Axen, one such merchant, purchased the Kollauhof estate in 1786, turning it into a social hub. Imagine guests enjoying gondola rides on the surrounding canals, a testament to the family’s prosperity. The Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk stands on a small pedestal, nestled between two ash trees. At eye level, a belt-like structure encircles the obelisk. It once held marble reliefs, now lost to time. Some speculate that the Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk was designed by the renowned Berlin sculptor, Johann Gottfried Schadow, creator of the Brandenburg Gate quadriga. Although, this remains unconfirmed, and it’s known the reliefs were not his work. A plaque was once affixed to the Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk. It is said to have featured a text by the poet Christine Westphalen, a relative of Catharina Margaretha. Obelisks were traditionally reserved for significant figures. Yet, with the Age of Enlightenment came a shift, allowing obelisks to also honor ordinary individuals. The Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk is one of the earliest examples of this. Today, two benches invite quiet contemplation at the foot of the Gedenkstein 1870 Obelisk, a place where a father’s love transformed grief into a lasting tribute.
Allerheiligen Kirche
Hidden within Hamburg’s Neugraben-Fischbek district lies the Allerheiligen Kirche. It serves as a spiritual home for Ukrainian immigrants. The Allerheiligen