Franzosenbrunnen (Harz)
The Franzosenbrunnen near Stiege is a fountain in the Harz Mountains that was created together with the Selkenfelder Schanze about 100 m to the south .
history
It is unclear whether the well was dug around 1760 or not until 1806, when French troops coming from Nordhausen occupied the Selkenfelder Schanze. In any case, it served to care for the stationed soldiers and horses.
Fragments of French horseshoes were found around 1900 during woodworking, which prove the French presence.
The Franzosenbrunnen remained in use until the 1960s. It was used by forest workers who cooked their “sliding soup” (bread slice soup), their potatoes, malt coffee or tea over an open fire in their forest workers' cooking pot called “The Raven”. The fountain was just one of many in the Harz forests. Often a water point remained unused for years. The water point was only cleaned and repaired when work was done again in the forest area concerned. The typical well roof made of thin spruce poles offered protection from silting up or disappearing under leaves and branches.
Todays situation
The well had been forgotten for about 50 years until it was found and repaired in 2011 through the efforts of Stieger citizens and former forest workers. The condition corresponds to the typical appearance of numerous forest wells.
swell
- Information boards on site
Coordinates: 51 ° 39 '5.4 " N , 10 ° 55' 40.6" O