On March 30, 1913 the foundation stone was laid on the Herrenkuppe and the fire altar was inaugurated on June 22 of the same year.
Syenite from the Cossebauder quarries on Talstrasse and shell limestone concrete were used as the building material. The execution was carried out by the master builder Säurich from Cossebaude, the cost was about 10,000 gold marks.
On the west side of the square (3.20 m × 3.20 m) and 4.50 m high altar was a Bismarck bust by the sculptor Richard König from Radebeul, above the coat of arms of those of Bismarck and on the opposite side a plaque with the following inscription :
"Our unforgettable Bismarck for lasting memories built in 1913. The committee for the establishment of a Bismarckung on the Herrenkuppe in Cossebaude."
This was probably changed in 1924 to:
"Dedicated to our unforgettable Prince Bismarck from the Cossebaude and Beautification Association in 1913"
The bust and inscription were removed in 1945.
After renovation in 1999, the fire altar was used again for solstice celebrations until 2008. In 2013 structural damage was repaired again and the fire bowl was removed without replacement, thus giving up the fire altar function. A Bismarck bust with name and life data was probably inserted in the latter renovation.
(Source: wikipedia.org)