Theodor Fontane, Neuruppin

The Theodor Fontane monument in Neuruppin was designed by the sculptor Max Wiese. Theodor Fontane's son Friedrich served as the model. It shows the poet in bronze sitting on a granite bench. His right leg is crossed over his left, his right hand holds a pencil resting on his lap, while his left hand casually holds a notebook. The hat rests on the bench, and the scarf and walking stick are on the backrest.

The inscription

can be found on the left side of the monument.

Just one year after Fontane's death in Berlin in 1898, a committee was founded there with the aim of erecting a monument in his honor in his native city of Neuruppin. A donation account was set up at the savings bank for the expenses. The city of Neuruppin and the district of Ruppin together provided 5,000 marks for this purpose. In 1906, the necessary funds were raised so that the sculptor Max Wiese could begin his work. Fontane's son Friedrich served as the model. Wiese had previously made the monument to Karl Friedrich Schinkel in Neuruppin. The people of Neuruppin honored Fontane as the "Poet of the Mark", as can be seen from the inscription on the right, with a large ceremony on June 8, 1907, during which the monument was unveiled. The place where the monument stands was named Fontaneplatz in 2005. The monument was renovated in 2010 with the help of donations from the Neuruppin Lions Club.

On December 30 of each year, on the occasion of Fontane's birthday, the Fontane tribute of the Fontane city of Neuruppin together with the Theodor Fontane Gesellschaft e.V. takes place from 11:00 a.m. at the monument.