Rolandbrunnen, Water well in Berlin-Mitte, Germany.
Rolandbrunnen is a water fountain in Berlin-Mitte featuring an octagonal main basin with a central statue of Roland carved from Norwegian granite. The structure has smaller basins arranged around its perimeter that create different water effects and operate during the warmer months.
Kaiser Wilhelm II presented this monumental fountain to Berlin in 1902, marking the southern end of the Siegesallee avenue in Tiergarten. The original design intended to represent Prussia, but the central figure was changed from Borussia to Roland during construction.
The fountain displays carved reliefs showing medieval social ranks and tells the story of how Berlin and Cölln competed as separate cities. These stone carvings let visitors read about the political tensions between the two communities.
Visit the fountain best between spring and autumn when water flows and temperatures are comfortable for spending time outside. The location is walkable and easy to reach from different paths since it sits in a central area of the larger park.
During planning, the decision was made to change the central figure from Borussia to Roland, completely redirecting the monument's original concept. This change was never fully explained but remains an interesting detail about how the structure came to be.
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