Faunbrunnen, Bronze fountain in Leiterstraße, Magdeburg, Germany.
Faunbrunnen is a bronze fountain shaped like a large pot, 3.2 metres in circumference, standing on a circular brick platform reached by several steps. The pot bears Magdeburg's coat of arms on its east side, and a water channel runs around it. Twenty-two figures populate the rim and platform: fighting boys, women drying each other, a urinating dog, and fauns spitting water as gargoyles. A stele with a snake rises from the centre, topped by two doves.
Artist Heinrich Apel created the fountain in 1986 during the redevelopment of the pedestrian zone with prefabricated buildings from the GDR era. The completion marked a period when Magdeburg was modernizing its public spaces.
The fountain takes its name from the faun figures that populate the pedestrian zone and shape the city's public spaces. Visitors can view the bronze statues up close and experience the water feature, which invites play on warmer days.
The fountain sits between the main train station and Magdeburg Cathedral, making it easily accessible from the city center. The area is open and accessible, offering a good spot to rest or refresh on warm days.
The bronze figures were cast at the Lauchhammer art foundry and initially carried the working title 'Ein Kessel Buntes,' referencing a popular GDR television program. In 1989, the fountain appeared on an official GDR postage stamp, gaining national recognition.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,637 contributors worldwide.
