Heinrichsbrunnen (Meiningen)

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Heinrichsbrunnen
Sculpture of Emperor Heinrich II.
Detail: seated lion with the Meiningen coat of arms

The Heinrichsbrunnen is a historical ornamental fountain in Meiningen , which is centrally located on the market square . The stone sculpture on the fountain stick represents Emperor Heinrich II of the Holy Roman Empire .

history

The fountain was a foundation of the Saxon-Meiningischen Duke Georg II. And was set up in 1873 on the Meiningen market . It replaced the Neptune Fountain, which had previously been in the same place. The Heinrichsbrunnen was created based on designs by the sculptor Wilhelm Pohl and the architect Hugo Schneider , both of whom were based in Aachen at the time . The sandstone figure, designed by court sculptor Ferdinand Müller on behalf of the Hereditary Prince of Meiningen in 1862 , was renewed in 1968 by Fritz Gögel due to environmental damage . A complete restoration of the listed fountain took place in 1997 and 1998.

Heinrich II. (HRR), who was crowned emperor in 1014, until then called himself Heinrich IV., Is considered the patron saint of the city of Meiningen. Heinrich IV, who was crowned King of Eastern Franconia in 1002 and who was also Duke of Bavaria from 995-1004, stayed at his royal estate in Meiningen during his royal ride at the turn of the year 1002/1003. Here at the beginning of January 1003 he was prevented from continuing his journey for a few days by a strong flood of the Werra . In these days, according to an unprovable tradition, he initiated the construction of the new St. Mary 's Church , which was necessary in the royal estate that was developing into a market town . The church, which still exists today, was first mentioned in a document as early as 1008, when the church and town became part of the Würzburg monastery .

construction

The fountain consists of a round stone trough at the base, which is flanked by two stone running fountains in the form of stylized chapels . Lanterns are installed on the fountains. In the middle of the trough is a three-tier well stock, which is supported by eight and four columns. The fountain stick is provided with eight water-spouting lion heads on the first floor, four water-spouting lion heads on the second floor and four seated lions on the third floor. The seated lions hold heraldic shields with the Meiningen city arms and the arms of the Duchy of Saxony-Meiningen . The fountain is crowned by the full-length statue of Henry II. The emperor with a long robe and crown holds the scepter in his right hand as ruler and on his left forearm he carries a model of the Meiningen town church as a saint.

literature

  • Kuratorium Meiningen (Hrsg.): Lexicon for the history of the city of Meiningen. Bielsteinverlag, Meiningen 2008, ISBN 978-3-9809504-4-2 , p. 108 f.

Web links

Commons : Heinrichsbrunnen  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Lexicon on the history of the town of Meiningen , p. 108 f. (see literature )
  2. ↑ Illustrirte Zeitung , No. 995 of June 5, 1862, p. 15.
  3. ↑ Johann Sebastian Güth : Poligraphia Meiningensis. 1676.
  4. ↑ Meininger Document Book No. 3–5; Reg. Thur. I No. 614, 616, 618 - Meiningen City Archives.

Coordinates: 50 ° 34 ′ 3.8 ″  N , 10 ° 24 ′ 56 ″  E