Beautiful Fountain
Eye-catcher on the Main Market Square
The Beautiful Fountain shines over the entire market with its magnificent decoration. It was built from 1385 to 1396 from Heinrich Beheim. It was one of the oldest pipe-fed fountains in the city. The wooden pipes that led to it, although one of the oldest water supply lines in Nuremberg, were in use until the 20th century.
If you look closely at the metalwork around the fountain, you may discover two rings which are built seamlessly into the fencing. There is a legend about the golden brass ring: The apprentice of the master who was responsible for creating the metalwork for the fountain fell in love with the master's daughter. The master forbid the relationship and said: "There's as good a chance of you marrying my daughter, as you making the rings at the Beautiful Fountain turn"! The apprentice wanted to show how talented he was and secretly created a seamless brass ring that he placed perfectly in the metalwork so it could be turned ... and then left town.
Our tip: Turn the golden ring! It's considered lucky and anyone who turns it will have three wishes fulfilled. But pssst ... many Nuremberger believe that the black ring is the "real ring"!
The fountain is almost 19 meters high and resembles a Gothic church spire. Forty figures arranged over four stories reflect the world view of the Holy Roman Empire. It was often restored and some weathered fragments of the original can be found in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.
Today's fountain is a 1903 copy made of limestone. It was undamaged in World War II because it was protected by a concrete structure. In 2016, the Beautiful Fountain underwent a detailed restoration and now has LED lighting and a functioning pump system for the water.
Categories at The Christkindlesmarket
Bratwursthäusle
Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg