Heinrich Fountain
The Heinrich-Brunnen is a fountain in Quedlinburg in Saxony-Anhalt .
location
It is located southeast of the old town of Quedlinburg at the square-like confluence of Adelheidstrasse and Turnstrasse . The Bode runs a little further east .
Design and history
The fountain commemorates the coronation of Henry I in 919 , who is seen by the creator of the fountain as the first German king. According to legend, Heinrich received news of his election as king while he was catching birds at the Quedlinburger Finkenherd. The fountain system was built in 2007 and was inaugurated on May 9, 2007. District Administrator Martin Skiebe and Quedlinburg Mayor Eberhard Brecht were present for the inauguration .
The humorously designed fountain was created by the Quedlinburg metal designer Jochen Müller . It was financed by the Kreissparkasse , a little north of the fountain site , which donated the fountain to the city of Quedlinburg.
The fountain figuratively depicts a coronation scene, in the center of which sits Heinrich, who is just about to be crowned by Eberhard von Franken . Heinrich, however, is more interested in catching birds and turns to a bird sitting on the ground. A nobleman who brought the crown stands a little offset from the two of them. The coronation group is surrounded by other people. For example, a bishop stands near the group with a negative gesture and is supposed to represent the negative attitude of the church towards the coronation of Henry. A simple peasant woman or maid, turning away from the scene with empty hands and a resigned mine, depicts the common people and the existing social contrasts. Also with his back to the coronation sits a chronicler with an open book. The artist's signature is in the sole of his shoe. The fountain is completed by various small figures, such as a frog prince and various birds, including several on a bird trap.
At the edge there is a board with explanations of the historical background and the design of the fountain.
The coronation scene is designed so that viewers can take Heinrich's place under the crown and sit under the crown. The facial features of the nobleman resemble the longstanding director of the Sparkasse, Klaus Köhler.
Web links
- Gerd Alpermann, Humorous Coronation Scene Upgrades Entrance Area, Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, published online on May 8, 2007
- Heinrich I, the first German king on www.quedlinburgweb.de
Coordinates: 51 ° 47 '8 " N , 11 ° 8' 47" E