Otto Lilienthal Birthday Celebration Stölln

Otto Lilienthal and the Gollenberg

The Otto Lilienthal Birthday Celebration in Stölln (part of the municipality of Gollenberg in the Havelland district) annually honours the birthday of the German aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal (* May 23, 1848 in Anklam, † August 10, 1896). Lilienthal was one of the first people to repeatedly take to the air with gliders – his flights were scientifically documented and are considered the foundation of modern aeronautics. He made numerous glider flights from the Gollenberg near Stölln starting in 1893; on August 9, 1896, he crashed here and died the following day from his injuries. The Gollenberg has since been considered the most important memorial site of early aviation history in Germany.

Festival Grounds by the "Lady Agnes"

The festival takes place at the festival grounds by the legendary IL-62 "Lady Agnes" – an Interflug aircraft spectacularly landed by Captain Heinz Dieter Kallbach in 1989 on a 900-meter field near Stölln. It was the only landing of an airliner on an unprepared field in the history of commercial aviation. Today, the Lady Agnes serves as a landmark and a walkable monument at the Lilienthal memorial site.

Program 2026

• Celebratory Speech at the AIAA Memorial Plaque: In 2003, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics honoured the Gollenberg as the first European "Aviation Heritage Site". The memorial plaque is the venue for the annual birthday tribute.
• Afternoon Cultural Program (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) at the foot of the IL-62 – musical performances and cultural contributions.
• Wreath-laying ceremony at the Lilienthal memorial site on the Gollenberg summit.
• Tour of the "Lady Agnes" possible.
• Refreshments available on site.

Organizer: Otto-Lilienthal-Verein Stölln e.V.

The Otto Lilienthal Association Stölln e.V. – founded in 1991 – preserves the memory of Otto Lilienthal, organizes the birthday celebration, the Lilienthal Festival (August), and the annual memorial event for the IL-62 landing in October. The association, together with the municipality, operates the Lilienthal Centrum and the Lady Agnes Area.

Stölln and the Westhavelland Nature Park

Stölln is located in the Westhavelland Nature Park, one of Germany's first Dark Sky Reserves – the starry sky is particularly visible here at night. The region is characterized by Havel floodplains, birdwatching areas, and gentle hills like the Gollenberg, which at 109 m is considered the "highest point" of the Havelland.