Market fountain (Wadern)
The market fountain is a fountain in the Saarland town of Wadern in the Merzig-Wadern district . The fountain was built in 1770 on the market square that was laid out in 1764 and has since changed location several times. After the redesign of the market square in the 1980s, it is now close to its original historical location. The fountain is the symbol for the granting of market rights on April 13, 1765 by Count Joseph Anton von Oettingen-Baldern.
history
In 1764, Count Johann Anton von Oettingen-Baldern laid out the market square in Wadern to enable the residents to sell their products. In the following year 1765 he gave Wadern market rights. Because of the steadily growing population from now on, the count had the market square enlarged on November 18, 1770 by buying adjacent land. He also had a market fountain built at the intersection of “Oberstrasse” and “Unterstrasse”, as well as the street “An der Kirche”. Market trade had already taken place at this point years earlier and so the fountain was supposed to take its position there as a symbol for market rights.
But over time, the Waderner Marktbrunnen became an obstacle to the ever-increasing volume of traffic. Many long timber vehicles threatened the well as they crossed the curve of the road. To the chagrin of the citizens and strangers, the fountain could no longer stay in its place and was finally mothballed in the 1940s.
In the course of time, the citizens of Wadern asked themselves more and more frequently about the whereabouts of the well.
In the 1960s, the market fountain finally became part of the market square again. The teacher and local historian Hans Schwendler was the initiator involved in rebuilding the fountain. About 100 meters from its original historical place, the fountain was now positioned in the vicinity of the town hall and the Kreissparkasse at the head end of the market square. The rest of the market square served as a parking lot.
However, this should not have been the last move for the market fountain. The marketplace should be redesigned as part of the urban development funding. In 1978 the first drafts came up with the idea of building an underground car park under a pedestrianized marketplace.
Implementation of the project was then started in the 1980s. The plans for the underground car park were ultimately discarded, but the fountain was finally given its final place in the last renovation in 1983. From his location at the town hall he finally moved to the lower end of the market square in the immediate vicinity of his former location. He also received a new lantern.
On October 15, 1985, the market square was finally opened and the fountain, which is almost 250 years old, is still there today.
Appearance of the old well
The old market fountain consisted of an octagonal basin about 2 to 3 meters in diameter, which was built from Britten sandstone. The surrounding wall was about 60 to 70 centimeters high. From the center of the well basin a column, likewise octagonal, adorned with capital , rose up, which was crowned by a lantern. From there, the water trickled into the basin from four finger-thick pipes.
Importance to citizens
The well was of great importance for the residents of Wadern.
"It was the pride of everyone in Wadern, the jewel of the place, the reminder of a time of great economic and historical development."
The fountain was and is still a popular meeting place for young and old. At that time, many people met at the fountain for a little chat and the children played on the edge of the fountain or splashed each other with water. The fountain was also very popular as a motif for photos, paintings or group photos.
The citizens, like the master baker and confectioner Philip Munich, always kept an eye on the fountain. As soon as the well seemed in danger, he came to the front door and admonished the culprit.
The fountain had become a piece of home for the citizens.
Say
They say that if you sit by the edge of the well on a quiet evening and listen to the splashing of the water, it would be as if secret fairy tales rose from the depths of the well. The water, shining silver in the moonlight, tells of good and bad times in the high forest. From the Hochwald people, when they were still modest and undemanding.
The legend of the fountain mermaid is also reported, who is said to live in a dwelling below the column of the fountain. From down there she looks up, smiling quietly at the sight of the late returners. She is said to have moved into her home again when the fountain was rebuilt, and has lived there from then on.
The fountain mermaid was also dedicated a poem by Ms. Anna Linn, née Lehnen from Wadern:
“From the depths I am lured again, / Again I step before you, / I want to consecrate the festival, / I, the queen of the fountain. Will tell you the saga / From the well here in the village / From the unknown sources / Where I live, on and on. Up on the mountain's heights, / Where the deer screams in autumn / Where the dark fir trees protrude, / Deep in the solitude of the forest, There lies the spring / Under which, damp moss, / And in the deep interior of the mountain / is my white mermaid's castle. Once upon a time, many hundred years ago, / It was summer and midday heat, / I sat dreaming at the spring, / Playing with the clear tide. Suddenly a dark shadow fell / On the source a light image; / Before me stood in youthful beauty / Knight with spear and shield. "O girl, give me a drink / Fresh and clear from the spring, / Take the little hand and scoop up, / Give me the drink with her." And I did as he asked, / Let him drink from his hand, / Filled the little bowl for him, / Until the tired man was thirsty. "And I saw how he feasted, / I was happy, I was happy, / When he was happy with the empty bowl / Reaches back into my hand!" "Thank you, child of the forest, / Sweet fairy from Wonderland / You have cooled my mouth, / But burned my heart. ”“ Extinguish the embers inside me, / Come down with me into the valley, / Give me your hand for life / As my sweet husband. ”I left not talking to him, / held out his hand pleadingly: / "Mermaids die when they love", / the answer sounded in his ear. “Return to the valley of Wadern, / Look for happiness and a bride there, / My spring should flow there, / Where you build your home. I want to give her healing power, / If the heart is sore and sore, / He who believes drinking from it, / The sick heart becomes healed. Now I have to say goodbye to you / go to my sources. / At the next fountain festival / We will meet again. "
swell
- ↑ a b c Wadern municipality: The history of the Wadern markets, for the anniversary 225 years of market rights . Ed .: Municipality of Wadern. 2016.
- ↑ a b team of authors of the city of Wadern: The series archive pictures Wadern . Sutton Publishing, 2000.
- ↑ a b c d e f H. Schwendler, Hauptlehrer i. R .; Robert Schwendler; Josefine Wolf; Robert Heinrichs; Nikolaus Karls: home book of the community Wadern . Ed .: Municipality of Wadern. Wadern municipality, 1963, p. 53-62 .
Coordinates: 49 ° 32 '22.7 " N , 6 ° 53' 24" E