Fontaine Roesselmann, Historical fountain in central Colmar, France

Fontaine Roesselmann is a white stone fountain on place des Six-Montagnes-Noires, built in 1888 by Auguste Bartholdi. A bronze statue of provost Jean Roesselmann in long robes stands on a tall tiered pillar, a staff at his right side. Carved faces and four curved spouts project from the middle section above a broad square pedestal and a round ground-level basin.

Auguste Bartholdi made the fountain in 1888 to honour provost Jean Roesselmann, killed in 1262 defending Colmar at the Porte de Bâle against Bishop Walter de Geroldseck of Strasbourg. The statue's face is that of mayor Hercule Jean-Baptiste de Peyerimhoff, who opposed the 1871 annexation and was forced to resign. Taken down in 1943 to be melted, the statue was found damaged at the Port du Rhin and reinstalled in 1945.

The figure is Provost Jean Roesselmann, killed in 1262 defending Colmar at the Basel Gate against Bishop Walter de Geroldseck of Strasbourg. His face, however, is that of mayor Hercule Jean-Baptiste de Peyerimhoff, who opposed the 1871 annexation of Alsace and was forced to resign; Bartholdi gave the medieval hero the features of a contemporary resister.

The fountain stands on Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires, a short walk from Colmar's old-town lanes. The square is open and level, so the monument can be circled on foot and viewed from all sides; the bronze figure and carved faces sit above eye level, so step back to see them.

The face of the bronze statue is not Roesselmann's: Bartholdi gave it the features of Hercule Jean-Baptiste de Peyerimhoff, the mayor of Colmar forced to resign for contesting the annexation of Alsace after 1871. The statue was taken down in 1943 to be melted, found badly damaged at the Port du Rhin, restored and put back in 1945.