Gustow's Atonement Stone

The Gustow Atonement Stone – a stone monument dating from 1510

In the cemetery in Gustow on the island of Rügen stands a remarkable monument: the Gustow Penitential Stone, which dates back to the year 1510. Measuring approximately 2.50 meters in height and 0.60 meters in width, it is one of the more impressive stone monuments of its kind in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The relief depicts a crucifix with two angels; to the left of it is a kneeling man with a sword on his head, and to the right is a chalice and a coat of arms featuring a rune-like family mark.

Mordwange and the Medieval Tradition of Atonement

According to tradition, atonement stones—also known as “Mordwangen”—were erected at sites where a murder had taken place. The inscription on the Gustow stone states that the preacher Thomas Norenberg was killed here by drunken farmers. Such stones are rare material evidence of medieval legal and atonement practices and make the cemetery in Gustow a site of cultural and historical interest on Rügen.

Gustow on Rügen – History in the Heart of the Baltic Sea Region

Gustow is located in the heart of the island of Rügen, surrounded by the typical landscape of the West Pomeranian Baltic Sea coast. Those traveling through the region with an interest in history and archaeology will find here, away from well-known sights such as Stralsund or Cape Arkona, a quiet yet significant testament to the past.