The Strehla Mermaid

The Strehla Mermaid is a 3-meter-tall mermaid statue located at the legendary Nixstein on the banks of the Elbe in Strehla.

The small town of Strehla in the Meissen district, with its medieval character, is known for a strong mermaid cult that stems from a mermaid myth associated with the town. At the heart of the legend is the so-called “Nixstein” (Mermaid Rock), which stands on a dead arm of the Elbe River in Strehla. It is the remains of a large granite boulder that is said to have served as a home for the mermaids. The mermaid myth inspired Strehla to choose the mermaid as the town’s unique selling point. As a result, the mermaid lends her name to the outdoor swimming pool, and there are two “mermaid trails” along which hikers can discover new projects and historic sights. In addition, a “Strehla Mermaid” is selected each year for the annual Mermaid Festival. In 2005, the Strehla City Marketing Association (Strehlaer Stadtmarketingverein e. V.) issued a call for designs to create a mermaid as a symbol for the town. From among all the designs, a 3-meter-tall mermaid was selected and installed on the Nixstein.