Fortunabrunnen, denkmalgeschützte Brunnenanlage im Münchener Stadtteil Lehel
The Fortunabrunnen is a fountain in Munich's Lehel district featuring an octagonal red marble basin and a bronze statue of the goddess Fortuna about 10 feet (3 meters) tall. The design includes four mermaids whose mouths produce the water jets, while detailed relief carvings around the basin depict farming, wine production, and fishing.
The fountain was created in 1907 by sculptor Karl Killer during a major redesign of the area near the Isartor gate, when five-story buildings transformed the neighborhood. After suffering severe damage during wartime, it was carefully restored and returned to operation with funds from a local foundation after 1945.
The name Fortuna references the Roman goddess of luck and prosperity, a symbol that held special meaning for the growing city in the early 1900s. The reliefs depicting farming, wine-making, and fishing show how residents connected water and nature to their daily work and survival.
The fountain is located within walking distance of the Isartor subway station and easily reached from the main street. In winter, the structure is covered with a wooden protective shell to shield the sculptures and water system from freezing temperatures.
In the early 1900s, the unclothed statue of the goddess caused such outrage among residents that locals covered it with wire mesh one morning, making it look like a cook wearing an apron. Today the goddess stands proudly uncovered and such reactions have long since faded.
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