Rahden

Groẞer Stein

The Big Stone of Tonnenheide is 10 meters long, 7 meters wide and 3 meters high. Its weight is about 350 tons. It is one of the largest erratic blocks in northern Germany. During the Ice Age, due to climate deterioration, powerful and extensive glaciations developed in numerous areas of the Earth. In 1915 the stone was uncovered and measured at the instigation of the main teacher from Tonnenheide, Sturhan. However, attempts to lift the stone from Tonnenheide failed. It was covered with soil again and only a small knoll remained visible. With the founding of the Heimatpflege in Tonnenheide in 1979, the idea of lifting it was taken up again. The technical difficulties of the salvage resulted mainly from the narrowness of the storage place. The stone was surrounded by buildings on three sides. Its salvage was only conceivable at all if one of these buildings, an approximately 300-year-old half-timbered storehouse, was removed. On August 28, 1981, this half-timbered storehouse was moved in one piece by a crawler crane.

On the same day, preparations for lifting the boulder began. The original plan to roll the boulder on air cushions to its new destination failed because of its sharp-edged underside. On August 30, 1981, with the help of a huge crane running on chains and a truck-mounted crane, the boulder could be lifted and slowly transported to its new place, on the farm grounds of Klasing No. 9, under 200-year-old oak trees.

Today, on baking days, you can enjoy fresh coffee, homemade bread and platen cake from the bakehouse under the large oaks.

You can also reach the Great Stone by the museum railroad. You can get on and off at the Tonnenheide/Hahnenkamp stop on ride days. The nearby Gasthaus Rüter invites you to asparagus or Pickertessen, depending on the season.

Rahden

Groẞer Stein

Rahden

Groẞer Stein

Rahden

Groẞer Stein

Address
Hahnenkamp 12
32369 Rahden

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