Lyra-Bank

The Lyra-Bank stands in Gehrden, a town on the edge of the Gehrdener Berg ridge in the Region Hannover. It is a large stone bench carved from Korallenoolith, a local limestone, designed by the sculptor Rommel and the architect Oskar Barnstorf in the late 19th century. The bench faces the old town centre of Gehrden, offering a quiet spot to sit and look over the rooftops. The bank honours Justus Wilhelm Lyra, a poet and pastor who lived in Gehrden from 1877 until his death in 1882. It carries a portrait relief of Lyra and two lines from his best-known work, the melody to Hoffmann von Fallersleben’s poem Der Mai ist gekommen. The words on the left post quote the opening line of the song, while the right post names the poem itself. Visitors find the bench beside the southern wall of the Margarethenkirche’s churchyard, part of a protected ensemble of historic buildings. The stonework shows clear signs of its past moves, yet it remains in good condition. The view from the bench takes in the church spire and the gentle slopes of the Gehrdener Berg, linking the place to both its cultural memory and its landscape.