Austriabrunnen, 19th-century fountain in Freyung square, Innere Stadt, Austria.
The Austriabrunnen on Freyung square is a stone artwork with a central pillar topped by a statue of Austria holding a lance and shield. Four female figures sit around this center, each representing a river and designed in the classical style of the 19th century.
The fountain was designed in 1844 and opened in 1846, created by Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler and Ferdinand von Miller working together. The creators chose a classical design to celebrate the power and reach of the Habsburg realm.
The four figures surrounding the fountain represent major rivers of the Habsburg territories. They show how Austria was connected to different parts of Europe through water and trade routes that linked these regions together.
The fountain sits on the busy Freyung square in the city center and is freely accessible throughout the year. It is easy to view and explore from the street, especially when you are walking through the inner district.
The two sculptors behind this work, Schwanthaler and von Miller, were known for carving deep symbolism into stone. What many visitors miss is that each of the four river figures carries its own details showing which river it represents when you look more closely.
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