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Wittelsbacher Fountain

About

The Wittelsbacher Fountain, completed in 1895 on Munich’s Lenbachplatz, is one of the city’s most celebrated monuments of Neo-Classicist design. Created by sculptor Adolf von Hildebrand to mark the completion of Munich’s modern water supply from the Mangfall Valley, it serves as an allegory of water’s dual nature. A broad semicircular basin frames a central rocky structure with a tiered bowl, flanked by two monumental marble figures: a young man on a seahorse hurling a stone, symbolising water’s destructive force, and a serene water nymph on a bull, representing its life-giving power. The fountain’s calm symmetry and classical proportions reflect Hildebrand’s Florentine influences, while its scale and craftsmanship make it a focal point of the surrounding square. Restored after wartime damage, it remains both a work of art and a tribute to the engineering achievement that transformed Munich’s public health and urban life.

Munich Germany

Location

The Wittelsbacher Fountain is a monumental and artistically significant fountain located at Lenbachplatz in Munich's Altstadt-Lehel district, at the transition between Lenbachplatz and Maximiliansplatz. Designed by sculptor Adolf von Hildebrand and constructed between 1893 and 1895, the fountain commemorates the completion of Munich's water supply system and honors the House of Wittelsbach, Bavaria's ruling dynasty for over seven centuries. The fountain features a large semicircular basin with water cascading from a central two-tiered bowl, flanked by majestic marble statues symbolizing the dual nature of water: its destructive and life-giving powers, represented by a young man on a seahorse and an Amazon on a water bull respectively. Situated in a lively urban square, the fountain is surrounded by beautiful historic architecture, and Lenbachplatz often hosts local events and street performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere for visitors to relax and appreciate Munich’s rich cultural heritage. Nearby attractions include the Kunstbau museum, cafés, and high-end shops, making the area a popular destination for both leisure and cultural exploration.

Wittelsbacher Fountain

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