Adolph-Kolping-Denkmal

The Adolph-Kolping-Denkmal stands in Schrobenhausen, a town in Bavaria’s Swabia region. It is a two-metre-high stone stele with six bronze plaques, each depicting a scene from the life of Adolph Kolping, the founder of the Kolping Society. The plaques were cast from the originals made for a similar monument in Ursensollen, completed two years earlier. The sculptor, Karl-Heinz Torge, designed the stele and its reliefs to honour Kolping’s legacy in his home area. Kolping devoted his life to supporting young workers and founded hostels and training centres across Germany. The plaques show key moments such as his apprenticeship, his studies, and the founding of his movement. The monument was unveiled on 10 June 2018 in front of St Salvator’s Church, close to the local Kolping House. Its placement allows visitors to reflect on Kolping’s social work while standing in the town where he grew up. Visitors find the stele set on a small paved area beside the church, with the bronze reliefs arranged in a spiral around the column. The church itself dates from the 18th century and has a plain façade with a single bell tower. Nearby stands the Kolping House, a modern building used for meetings and events. The monument’s design links past and present, inviting passers-by to pause and read the story told in metal.