Stein des Anstoßes

The inscription on the monument is translated as follows:

“I will not yield an inch.”

In memory of Maria Rampendahl 1645–1705.

Accused of witchcraft in 1681, she resisted torture. Her accusation was the end of the Lemgo witch trials, to which more than 200 men and women fell victim. Her name stands for all of the innocent victims of this city. A warning and encouragement for us all.

The witch hunts in the years after 1666 are still a particularly well-known and disgraceful part of Lemgo’s history. This memorial was erected to commemorate the city’s over 250 victims. The stone stands at the junction between the church and city hall, both of which played a role in the witch trials.

The artist felt it was important that political decision makers saw the monument as a “stumbling block” when leaving the town hall. In summer and winter alike, the appearance of the marble block changes depending on the light and shadow.

Further reading on Maria Rampendahl: Wilbert, Gisela, “…ein überaus listiges Weib…“ Maria Rampendahl (1645–1705) und das Ende der Hexenverfolgungen in Lemgo, Bielefeld, 2005.