Fountain of the knight banneret, Renaissance fountain in Old Town of Bienne, Switzerland.

The Vennerbrunnen is a fountain on the Ring in Biel's old town, in front of the Zunfthaus zu Waldleuten. Its octagonal stone basin holds a Renaissance fountain stock topped by a life-size armored banner bearer carved from Hauterive stone in 1557. The figure stands with legs apart, wears a helmet and backplate with gold scrollwork, red sleeves and striped breeches, rests his right hand on his hip, and carries a red banner with a gold axe.

The first wooden trough was built in 1401; the stone trough that replaced it in 1546 was made by stonemason Peter Pagan of Nidau. Transporting the 52-hundredweight stone parts required 18 horses, and a wooden bridge, probably at the Pasquart or Nidau gate, collapsed under the load, killing one person. Michel Wumard carved the banneret figure in 1557; a storm in 1561 tore off its right arm.

The figure represents the medieval commander of Biel's troops, who also held the key to the town armoury. The life-size armoured banner bearer, carved from Hauterive stone, carries the banner of the city of Biel. The fountain stands in front of the Zunfthaus zu Waldleuten on the Ring, the central square of the old town.

The fountain stands on Rathausplatz square in the old town of Biel at an elevation of 443.5 meters (1455 feet). You can reach it on foot from the city center in a few minutes.

The 52-hundredweight stone trough of 1546 was hauled by 18 horses; a wooden bridge, probably at the Pasquart or Nidau gate, broke under the load and one person died. The figure's spread legs cracked when it was set on the capital in 1557 and were reinforced with iron; a storm in 1561 took the banneret's right arm.