Look for a tall granite column with a bronze statue on top, right in the middle of a grassy triangle surrounded by roads and trees - you really can’t miss it!
Welcome to Vinckeplatz! You’re standing where Ruhrort’s history gets gloriously dramatic. In front of you rises a 7.5-meter-tall granite column crowned by a statue of Felicitas Publica, clutching a horn of plenty - a promise of luck and wealth for everyone around. Now, here’s the twist: this isn’t just any old column; it’s an ode to Ludwig Freiherr von Vincke, a reformer and relentless port-builder whose efforts in the early 1800s transformed Ruhrort’s harbors from sleepy backwaters to bustling gateways of trade. Imagine it: 1813, Vincke flips his cape as Zivilgouverneur, takes charge between the Weser and Rhine, and gets so good at running things, they make him the big boss of Westphalia and river shipping.
But here’s where it gets juicy - the original statue, crafted by Christian Daniel Rauch in 1845, stood at the harbor, but times got tough. By 1941, with World War II raging, the statue was melted down for metal. Talk about having a meltdown! Not to worry, in 1962, the statue made a comeback, and finally in 2003 - like the best dramatic returns - she was restored to her rightful place here at Vinckeplatz. Look around for the Tausendfensterhaus and the old school nearby, reminders that history’s always just a step away here in Ruhrort. And remember, luck and prosperity are watching over you today, too - just don’t try to climb up for that cornucopia!
