Tag: Langer Lui

Long, Tall Louis

This monument of Grand Duke Ludewig of Hesse and by Rhine stands in the central square of Darmstadt. The plinth, the column and the 5 metre tall Ludewig measure a total of just under 40 metres. The Darmstadt people love the tall structure and only call it “Langer Lui” (or “Tall Ludwig”).

Not odd as such but odd because I could’ve sworn the one word today would be “tall”. So I leave this post as an example of the oddity of my brain.

One Word Sunday

Long Louis

Langer Ludwig

The central place in Darmstadt is the Luisenplatz with this 33 metre tall column supporting a bronze statue of Ludwig I, first Grand Duke of Hesse, erected in the middle of the 19th century.  The people of Darmstadt call it Langer Lui, meaning Long Ludwig, on account of its size (or length).

Today it is surrounded by buildings erected after the second world war as the centre of Darmstadt was almost completely destroyed in one night in 1944.  In the firestorm created by allied bombers approximately 11 ,000 to 12,500 of the inhabitants burned to death, and 66,000 to 70,000 were left homeless.  The palace behind the column was erased and in its place is now a shopping mall.

Ludwig from the bottom and almost at eye level from a neighbouring multi-storey car park.

Linked to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: things that are long.