Zentaurenbrunnen, fountain in Germany
The Zentaurenbrunnen is a bronze fountain in Bremen's Neustadt district that depicts a centaur standing on a rocky ledge while wrestling a snake coiled around his body. Water shoots upward from the snake's mouth and cascades into a circular basin below.
The sculpture was created in Rome in 1890 by artist Carl August Wilhelm Sommer and installed in Bremen in 1891 after merchant Heinrich August Gildemeister funded its creation. In 1958, the fountain was relocated to its current position at Leibnizplatz due to changes in the city's street layout.
The fountain depicts a centaur from Greek mythology, a creature with a horse's body and human upper body that was popular in late 19th-century artistic circles. This mythological subject remains visible to visitors today as a window into the artistic preferences and tastes of that era.
The fountain is located on Leibnizplatz in a park area that forms part of the historic city walls and is easy to access. Visitors should expect water to be running during warmer months and can use the surrounding space for a quiet pause.
The bronze sculpture was saved from being melted down during World War II and survived the war's destruction, making it a valuable remnant of that period. After the war, restoring it proved difficult due to changes in the city's street planning until it was finally relocated to its current spot in 1958.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
