Steinerner Mann
Short facts
- Verden (Aller)
The "Stone Man" is located high up on the edge of the roof in the inner courtyard of St. Mary and St. Cecilia Cathedral in Verden.
The legend of the Stone Man
Once upon a time there was a sexton or steward of the cathedral who is said to have embezzled and shamefully squandered the funds of this place of worship. When he was to give an account before the bishop and the cathedral chapter, he swore to the devil if he had done so. Thereupon a terrible howl and laughter arose three times around the cathedral, the evil one himself appeared, grabbed the sexton and wanted to drive him out through the cathedral wall. The devil's "prey" got stuck in the wall and turned to stone.
Journeymen and the Stone Man
In earlier centuries, journeymen came to Verden on their travels to get work, accommodation and food. Before doing so, however, they had to go to Verden Cathedral with the head journeyman to see the Stone Man.
The journeymen were told that he was a thief who had wanted to enter the cathedral but was immediately turned to stone.
The journeymen were given a stamp in the travel book they carried with them to confirm that they had seen the Stone Man at Verden Cathedral.
This was always proof of their visit to Verden, which was already an important town at the time. At the same time, this story was passed on as a reminder to foreign craftsmen to be honest.
Once upon a time there was a sexton or steward of the cathedral who is said to have embezzled and shamefully squandered the funds of this place of worship. When he was to give an account before the bishop and the cathedral chapter, he swore to the devil if he had done so. Thereupon a terrible howl and laughter arose three times around the cathedral, the evil one himself appeared, grabbed the sexton and wanted to drive him out through the cathedral wall. The devil's "prey" got stuck in the wall and turned to stone.
Journeymen and the Stone Man
In earlier centuries, journeymen came to Verden on their travels to get work, accommodation and food. Before doing so, however, they had to go to Verden Cathedral with the head journeyman to see the Stone Man.
The journeymen were told that he was a thief who had wanted to enter the cathedral but was immediately turned to stone.
The journeymen were given a stamp in the travel book they carried with them to confirm that they had seen the Stone Man at Verden Cathedral.
This was always proof of their visit to Verden, which was already an important town at the time. At the same time, this story was passed on as a reminder to foreign craftsmen to be honest.
Lugenstein 10
27283 Verden (Aller)
Deutschland
Phone: +49 4231 / 12345
E-mail: touristik@verden.de
Website: www.verden.de
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