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Cottbuser Schneckenreiter returns after 1.5 years of excitement!
Cottbus is re-erecting the restored sandstone sculpture “Schneckenreiter” after vandalism. Donations needed for maintenance.
Cottbuser Schneckenreiter returns after 1.5 years of excitement!
After the long wait, the time has finally come: the legendary sandstone sculpture “Putte with Snail”, better known as the “Snail Rider”, is returning to Cottbus. How Radio Lausitz reported, the sculpture was re-erected on July 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. at its original location on the Spree Bridge on Franz-Mehring-Straße.
The “snail rider’s” journey back was anything but easy. The figure was the target of vandalism and smashed by unknown persons on New Year's Eve 2023/2024. The recovery of the parts took around 1.5 years, especially since the strong flooding of the Spree made it difficult to rediscover the fragments. With the support of the DLRG, the first parts were finally recovered in the winter of 2024 before the complete sculpture was restored in the workshops of master stonemason Maik Brunzel Niederlausitz Current supplemented.
Vandalism as a growing problem
However, the “Schneckenreiter” is not the only case of vandalism in Cottbus. More and more works of art in public spaces are being damaged, causing significant financial costs for the city. Every year the city spends several thousand euros on repairs and cleaning work. It often remains unclear what the motives behind such destruction are, similar to other works of art that are repeatedly targeted by vandals Deutschlandfunk culture. Reference is made to the various reactions of citizens, which fluctuate between rejection and a special form of appreciation of art.
In order to support the maintenance of future works of art in public spaces, the city of Cottbus has set up a donation account. Anyone who would like to help can do so via the city treasury at Sparkasse Spree-Neiße. The account information is as follows:
- Verwendungszweck: FB41 Spende
- Konto der Stadtkasse Sparkasse Spree-Neiße
- IBAN: DE06 1805 0000 3302 0000 21
- BIC: WELADED1CBN
With every cent that comes in, the city can show a good hand for art in public spaces and thus preserve the valuable pieces in the future. The “Schneckenreiter” is a wonderful example of how important art is for our city – and unfortunately how vulnerable it can be.