This equestrian statue is located in Old Town Cologne (Altstadt) and depicts King Friedrich Wilhelm III, the Prussian monarch from 1797 to 1840. His rule included difficult times for the region, such as the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars. The statue is about 11.7 meters (38 feet) tall (including its base) and weighs 11 tons. It was commissioned in the mid-19th century and was unveiled in 1878.
During the Allied bombing in 1943 the statue was knocked off its pedestal. Most of the statue was melted down for scrap, with only the king’s head and the horse’s tail salvaged A faithful bronze recast was funded by public and private donations and installed in 2009. This is the statue you see today.
The lower level features historical scenes (e.g., battles and reforms). Above this are life-sized bronze figures representing Prussian statesmen.
You’ll find the statue in Haymarket square, about 10 minutes from Cologne Cathedral. It’s a popular gathering place, especially for the Christmas Market.
