Wolf and pine cone

The two bronze figures greet you right at the entrance to Aachen Cathedral and connect the present with one of the city's most famous legends. The wolf and pine cone once adorned a fountain in front of the cathedral. Today, they serve as a reminder of how, according to tradition, a wolf helped the people of Aachen outwit the devil during the construction of the cathedral. The wolf is said to have surrendered his soul to the devil and therefore symbolises the cunning with which the cathedral was completed. The pine cone complements the ensemble as another relic of this legend and refers to the long tradition of bronze decorative elements at the cathedral. If you linger here for a moment, you will feel the connection between myth, craftsmanship and history that characterises this place.