Bear in the city coat of arms of Bernkastel

The bear in the city coat of arms of Bernkastel-Kues is a striking and symbolic element that dates back to the Middle Ages.

In 993, Adalbero, Count of Luxembourg and Lord of Bernkastel Castle, named the castle after his heraldic animal , the bear. This is also where the bear in the city's coat of arms comes from.

The "Castel des Bero" becomes Bernkastel and in the local dialect even "Bärekessel". Over the centuries, the bear has been depicted repeatedly on the city's coat of arms or seal.

An old landmark is the bear in Graacherstrasse . Until 1899 , the heraldic lord sat enthroned on the bear or Rauschepütz on an iron water pump . In that year, the pump was demolished and the bear wandered from one corner of the city to the other with broken limbs. The Eich brothers bought the bear from the city and placed the bear statue back at their business premises at Graacherstrasse 23.

When the last resident of Haus Eich died, the heirs removed the old bear statue due to the strong weathering and falling sandstone fragments. After two years of professional renovation and restoration of the bear, it was decided to lend the heraldic animal to the Graacher-Tor Local History Museum. Since then, the upright bear has been enthroned with dignity and serenity above the gate, holding the city coat of arms of the Electorate of Trier in its hands . On the outside of the old city gate stands the city's patron saint, St. Michael, who guards the entrance and exit.

Willem Vandenameele