Hessendenkmal
The Hessendenkmal is a historical sculpture in Frankfurt, created by Johann Christian Ruhl for fallen Hessian soldiers. Its stone base carries the names of the fallen soldiers.
The monument commemorates Hessian troops who died during Frankfurt’s storming under French occupation and Adam Philippe de Custine’s command. Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm the Second commissioned the monument.
It originally stood before Friedberger Tor, where many Hessian soldiers had fallen, before a road rerouting shifted its position. A road rerouting moved it several metres.
Its base records officers and grenadiers, giving the monument an unusually broad memorial register. Latin inscriptions honour Hessians who fell in battle.
The south side faces the city, while the monument’s imagery presents defence through objects linked with strength and protection. A marble cube rests on basalt blocks.
A battering ram, shield, helmet and Hercules’s club complete the defensive symbolism. The Nemean lion’s skin drapes over the base.
Visitors can access the sculpture by wheelchair.
- City
- Frankfurt
- Content updated
Take this page with you
The myTuur app is free, and once you are standing at a spot its story starts by itself.
Spots like this one are the stops myTuur strings into tours through Frankfurt. In the app, each story begins where you stand: walk up to a spot and it starts, read it on screen or listen as you go, then follow the route to the next one.
What is myTuur?
myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.