Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see
Germany
Lower Saxony
East Frisia
Wittmund
Esens

Esens Bear Statue

Highlight • Monument

Esens Bear Statue

Recommended by 333 cyclists out of 344

Save

Share

  • More

  • Save

    Share

  • More

  • Take Me There

    Routes here

    Top cycling routes to Esens Bear Statue

    4.7

    (113)

    401

    riders

    1. Neuharlingersiel Harbor – Esens Town Center loop from Neuharlingersiel

    34.6km

    02:09

    50m

    50m

    Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Intermediate

    Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Easy

    Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Easy

    Tips

    September 14, 2021

    How did the bear get into the coat of arms?
    A bear guide once came to Esens. But he came at an inopportune time, because the knight Balthasar, the lord of the fortress, was at war with his neighbors and the enemies came to the city and besieged it. So the stranger couldn't get out again, and his bear was locked in an old tower.

    The Junker Balthasar did not want to surrender, but the warbands in front of the city did not give up. They didn't let anyone into the city, thinking that the Essenes would soon run out of food and that hunger would conquer them. The food inside was actually running low and before long there was great distress among those trapped. They already believed that they had to open their gates to the enemy if they didn't want to die of hunger. Then there arose for them a savior whom no one thought of.

    The bear had been completely forgotten and no one had given it food. The animal ran back and forth in hunger, trying to find a way out. But there was only one spiral staircase, narrow and steep, which you could use to climb to the top of the tower. The bear groped its heavy steps up the steps, one after the other, and finally it became light above him and he stood at the top. But he didn't find what he was looking for to fill himself up here. Then he was seized by angry despair, he stood on his hind legs and grabbed the parapet with his paws, so that the stones of the old walls came loose and rumbled into the depths. He roared with all his might so that everyone's eyes turned up in horror. When the besiegers saw a bear standing up there, they were frightened. They believed that the Essenes had led him there on purpose to show them that they could feed even such a superfluous animal and were far from thinking of surrendering. And because they were running low on supplies, they decided to leave.

    The knight Balthasar and his followers could not believe their eyes when they saw the enemy turn their backs on the city. The bear was brought down from the tower in triumph, and in gratitude for his unconscious act of rescue, they put his image on their city coat of arms.

    By Wilhelmine Siefkes
    From the reading book East Frisia, people, destinies, landscape, nature
    ISBN 3-87706-032-3
    Schlütersche Verlagsanstalt and printing company, Hanover

    (Source nordsee-esens-bensersiel.de/baeren/wappen.htm)

    Translated by Google •

      March 29, 2022

      We think the bears in Essens are absolutely beautiful. Some shops have their own bear

      Translated by Google •

        March 30, 2022

        Essen's landmark

        Translated by Google •

          Sign up for a free komoot account to get 3 more insider tips and takes.

          Sign up for free

          Details

          Informations

          Elevation 50 m

          Weather

          Powered by AerisWeather

          Today

          Wednesday 22 October

          14°C

          9°C

          20 %

          If you start your activity now...

          Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

          Most visited during

          January

          February

          March

          April

          May

          June

          July

          August

          September

          October

          November

          December

          Loading

          Location: Esens, Wittmund, East Frisia, Lower Saxony, Germany

          Other Popular Places to Check Out

          Ostfriesland-Wanderweg

          Explore
          RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
          Download the app
          Follow Us on Socials

          © komoot GmbH

          Privacy Policy