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Cottbus celebrates the return of the snail rider after a long restoration!
The Cottbus Schneckenreiter returns on July 23, 2025 after almost two years of restoration after it fell victim to vandalism.
Cottbus celebrates the return of the snail rider after a long restoration!
A special event is coming up at the Spree Bridge in Cottbus: On July 23, 2025, at 11 a.m., the famous sandstone sculpture “Putte with Snail,” better known as “Snail Rider,” will be ceremonially re-erected. The return of the charming figure after its destruction on New Year's Eve 2023/24 marks not only a restoration, but also a message against vandalism and for the importance of art in public spaces. Loud Niederlausitz Current The restoration took around 1.5 years, with all missing parts being recovered and lovingly restored by stonemason Maik Brunzel.
The city has seen a worrying increase in vandalism cases in recent years, damaging not only art but also social identity. Works of art are repeatedly damaged or even stolen, as the incidents surrounding bronze sculptures in other cities show. Annegret Laabs, director of the art museum in Magdeburg, emphasizes that awareness of art in public spaces is dwindling and the police often have little success in finding perpetrators. These issues were addressed in a recent article by MDR treated in detail.
The importance of art in public spaces
The “Snail Rider” is much more than just a sculpture; it symbolizes the community's commitment to art and culture. Art in public spaces should not be taken for granted. It promotes togetherness and offers society a space for discussion and reflection on current topics. In this way, art becomes an important part of urban life that reflects emotions, thoughts and values. This is also shown by a study by Dresden.de, which highlights the role of contemporary art in cities.
Another example is the preparations for the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, where the Purple Path is planned, an art project that connects communities in the Ore Mountains. Through creative projects we try to promote awareness of art again and work towards making art a place of identity and dialogue. Despite all the challenges, such as the increasing privatization of public spaces and the associated financial bottlenecks, the hope for creative coexistence in cities remains alive.
A call for support
In order to give art a permanent home in public spaces, the city of Cottbus has set up a donation account. This should not only be used for maintenance, but also to promote other projects that enrich the cityscape. The necessary information is provided:
- Verwendungszweck: FB41 Spende
- Konto der Stadtkasse Sparkasse Spree-Neiße
- IBAN: DE06 1805 0000 3302 0000 21
- BIC: WELADED1CBN
The challenges are great, but the return of the “snail rider” is a ray of hope and shows that community, creativity and a shared cultural heritage can overcome all obstacles. The call for support is also a call to get involved and become part of this exciting journey.