Are these ancient German sandstone pillars a pagan temple or a medieval Christian site?

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Rising abruptly from the Teutoburg Forest, the Externsteine are a series of thirteen striking sandstone columns. While popular folklore long claimed they served as a sacred site for pagan Saxons, modern archaeological evidence suggests a more complex history rooted in medieval Christian devotion and later ornamental redesigns by local nobility.

The Externsteine formation, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, consists of erosion-resistant sandstone layers that were folded vertically about 70 million years ago. Despite persistent myths—popularized by Hermann Hamelmann in 1564—that the site was a pagan Saxon sanctuary where Charlemagne destroyed the Irminsul idol, no archaeological data supports pre-medieval usage beyond nomadic groups from the Upper Paleolithic era. Excavations in the 1930s failed to uncover any Bronze or Iron Age artifacts, confirming that the site's human-made modifications date primarily from the 10th to the 15th centuries.

The site features intricate carvings and chambers, including the Grottenfels, which contains a 1115 inscription marking an altar consecration. The famous Descent from the Cross relief, once thought to be Carolingian, is now placed by historians between 1160 and 1170. These features, along with an Arcosolium tomb structure, suggest the site may have functioned as a local pilgrimage destination for those unable to make the arduous journey to Jerusalem, serving as a symbolic replica of the Holy Sepulchre.

Over the centuries, the stones underwent significant transformations. By the 17th century, the site was repurposed by the Counts of Lippe as an ornamental hunting lodge, with decorative towers and structural additions. Later, in the 19th century, the area was further modified for tourism, including the creation of an artificial pond and the installation of modern stairways. Linguistic research indicates the name likely derives from the Middle Low German word for rocky ridges, Egge, rather than mythological origins, grounding the site's identity in its unique geology rather than ancient legend.

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