Zschokke-Memorial

The Zschokke Memorial (Zschokke-Denkmal) in Aarau is a bronze statue in the Kasinopark, the town's small city park in the canton of Aargau. It honours Heinrich Zschokke, a writer, politician and educator who spent the last three decades of his life in Aarau. It makes an easy stop on a walk through the town.

Who was Heinrich Zschokke?

Zschokke was born in Magdeburg in 1771 and died in Aarau in 1848. He started out writing for the theatre and studied theology in Frankfurt an der Oder. He then moved to Switzerland and in 1796 took charge of a boarding school in Reichenau. Under the Helvetic Republic he worked in the national culture office, and from 1799 he served as a government commissioner in several cantons.

In Aargau he became chief inspector of forests and mines and sat in the cantonal Grand Council from 1815 to 1843. He also played a leading part in drafting the Aargau school law of 1835. He lived in Aarau from 1818, in a house called Blumenhalde. The cantonal heritage inventory describes him as a liberal writer, politician and educator.

What will you see at the memorial?

The monument dates from 1894 and is the work of Karl Alfred Lanz (1847-1907), a Swiss sculptor counted among the significant names in the country's historical monumental sculpture. The bronze figure is slightly larger than life. Zschokke stands in a classical contrapposto pose, arms raised and drawn in towards his chest, his gaze turned a little to one side and past the viewer. The effect is thoughtful and inward-looking. The figure rests on a tall plinth in a compact park.

The monument has been under cantonal protection since 17 December 1997. It is rated priority B, meaning regional significance, and the protection covers it in full.

How to plan your visit

The statue stands in an open park, so you can see it at any time of day. A look takes only a few minutes, which is why it fits well into a wider stroll around Aarau. For the 250th anniversary of the writer's birth in 2021, the Stadtmuseum Aarau put together a walking route that begins at this very statue. The museum's materials also include photographs of the monument's unveiling, if you want to dig into its history.

Frequently asked questions

Who does the statue in Aarau depict?

Heinrich Zschokke (1771-1848), a German-born writer who made Switzerland his home, took part in Aargau politics and helped shape the canton's school system.

Who made the monument and when?

The sculptor Karl Alfred Lanz created the bronze figure in 1894.

Where is it located?

In the Kasinopark in Aarau, canton of Aargau, Switzerland.

Is the monument protected?

Yes. The canton of Aargau placed it under protection on 17 December 1997, with a regional-significance rating.