Externsteine

Genesis and location of the "Externsteine"

Coming from the big parking site a footway heads in westward direction and passes by our restaurant. Approximately 333 meters from the restaurant a row of 13 grey rocks, which heights are between 20 and 38 meters, stick out of the ridge. In the eyes of geologists these rocks are nothing more than the remains of a sandstone layer, which vertically rose by an eruption about 70 million years ago. The mountainous ridge “Knickenhagen – Externsteine – Bärenstein” accumulated during the Cretaceous period. In a valley to the west of the “Externsteine”, which is known today as the “Wiembecke” valley, the water dammed and broke through the chain of sandstone. The decomposition of the rocks influenced by precipitation and frost still affects the surface and therefore changes the chasms between the rocks. The “Wiembecke” flows at the foot of the far right rock; the “Wiembecke” riverbed has been cleaned by the “Externsteine” since millennia. After the Second World War the small river was changed into a pond.

Archaeological and cultural monument "Externsteine"

Each year thousands of visitors are thrilled by the unique sights of the “Externsteine”, a natural monument, which has been turned into a cultural monument by our ancestors. The rocks combined with the consistency of the landscape make it possible to indicate the genesis of the “Externsteine”. Through the years each rock got a number to improve general comprehension. Today we can differ between the rocks. The biggest rock at the pond is called “rock 1”. At the eastern outside partition a relief carved out of stone shows Christ’s deposition from the cross. Further right, approximately 10 meters above the pond’s waterside, a staircase leads to a small cabinet. Archaeologists still don’t agree upon the chamber’s true meaning.

The tramway

Since 1813 a street passes right between rock 3 and 4. The legendary rattle back on rock 4 was fixed with iron clamps that year. But it was blocked for public movement in 1940. In the time between 1912 and 1953 even a tram line ran along this road, which connected Lippe-Detmold with Paderborn by running right through Horn and the “Externsteine”. The “Externsteine”, the striking natural phenomenon and one of today’s high-ranking European cultural monuments, were located at a very old and important road; Varus selected this route via the “Egge” area to bring over Roman legions from the river “Lippe” to the river “Weser” into the land of the Germanic peoples. Nowadays this important east-west connection (B1) from Cologne via Dortmund, Paderborn, Horn, Hameln, Hildesheim and Magdeburg to Berlin runs approximately 1 kilometre southwards of the old route. Today the "Externsteine" are isolated in a 142 hectares nature reserve.

The relief with Christ´s deposition from the cross

At the bottom and probably oldest part of the relief, which is separated by a horizontal edge, a bearded dragon embraces the first human couple Adam and Eve. The surface of the upper part of the relief is accurately polished; the cross and the represented characters are distinguishable. The lower part with its more agitated surface seems to give the impression of a demonic darkness. Perhaps the relief coincides with the Christian movement in the northern German area, which started from the Corvey convent at Höxter. This ancient pagan shrine got destroyed by monks from Paderborn, which created the relief of Christ’s deposition from the cross in the first half of the 12th century. In this part of the “Teutoburger Wald”, the eastern “Egge” area, another holy pagan symbol played an important role. The imaginary “Irminsul” pillar, which the Germanic people thought of as the centre of the universe, was located here. On this spot of their holy shrine, the Germanic peoples, who were led by Arminius the Cheruscan that time, made sacrifices to their god for the victory they won over Roman legions 9 years AD. Charlemagne destroyed this Germanic cult site in the year 772 during his Saxon campaign.

The upper chapel

A chapel is located at the top of rock 2, which can be reached by an iron bridge that was built in 1811. This so-called “Sazellum” is integrated in the rock.

The chapel downstairs

Behind the relief of rock 1 another chapel is located. This chapel is a combination of 3 single vaults, which were made by human beings.

The former hunting lodge

Earl Hermann-Adolf zur Lippe (1652-1666), one of the landlords from Lippe, who possessed the "Externsteine" after the Reformation period, established a hunter lodge here.