Schöner Brunnen

The Schöner Brunnen is a Gothic fountain structure on Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt, built with an octagonal framework of stone and ironwork. Its framework carries numerous painted stone figures across several tiers, representing various historical and biblical persons.

A Nuremberg craftsman named Heinrich Beheim created this fountain at the end of the 14th century as a central structure of the marketplace. The work arose during a time when the city sought to underscore its power and prosperity through architectural accomplishment.

The figures on the fountain represent different areas of knowledge and authority, including scholars and high-ranking officials from the empire. They show how the city's society displayed its values in the center of the marketplace.

The fountain stands in the center of Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt and is easily reached from anywhere, as the square sits directly in the old town. You can view it at any time, but daytime hours are most pleasant for seeing the details of the figures clearly.

Two brass rings are set into the lower section's ironwork that visitors touch, which legend says brings good fortune. This small tradition shows how tourists and locals have shaped the site across generations.

Location: Nuremberg

Inception: 1385

Creator: Heinrich Beheim

Architectural style: Gothic architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Creator: Heinrich Beheim

Address: Rathausplatz,Hauptmarkt

Opening Hours: 24/7

Website: https://tourismus.nuernberg.de

GPS coordinates: 49.45423,11.07704

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:01