Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 11 Nov 2025

Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Nestled in the heart of Germany"s Teutoburg Forest, near the town of Horn-Bad Meinberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, the dramatic rock formations known as the Externsteine rise majestically into the sky. These sandstone pillars, formed around 70 million years ago, are among Germany"s most significant natural and cultural landmarks. They captivate visitors with their unique shapes and rich historical significance, attracting thousands each year. The rocks reach heights of up to 35 metres. As early as the Middle Ages, the site was used as a place of worship, as evidenced by a remarkable 12th-century relief carved into the stone depicting the Descent from the Cross. It is the oldest of its kind north of the Alps.

© Michael Sroka/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A wave of remembrance
11 Nov 2023Val di Funes, Italy
11 Nov 2024Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

More Desktop Wallpapers:

A breathtaking cave when it’s cold
8 Apr 2024Llansteffan Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales
11 Dec 2024International Mountain Day
29 Sep 2024West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut, USA
30 Aug 2024International Whale Shark Day
11 Feb 2025Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China
9 Sep 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
An oasis in a sea of sand
6 Nov 2023Lago Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Aug 29, 2023American bison, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
12 Aug 2024World Elephant Day
5 Sep 2025Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California, United States
20 Aug 2024Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
2 Mar 2024Brit Awards
26 Aug 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
1 Jun 2025World Reef Awareness Day
Frosty Finland
8 Jun 2024European hare
2 Oct 2024Wind River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA
5 Feb 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
6 Dec 2025Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
7 Jul 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
10 Oct 2025Fiji Day
16 Jan 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
26 Sep 2023Venice Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
22 Nov 2025Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China
23 Dec 2025Reindeer, Lapland, Finland
29 Mar 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales
21 Aug 2024Wolf Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
6 Jun 202581st anniversary of D-Day