Leutraquelle

Did Carl August know what he was starting when he commissioned the Sphinx Grotto at the Leutraquelle? It’s 1784, and here we stand at the foot of the Horn, beside the quietly flowing Ilm. The Leutraquelle, three karst and fault springs, gushes forth, its waters a constant 8.5 degrees Celsius, regardless of the season. These springs give birth to the Leutra, a short-lived stream that merges with the Ilm near the Sternbrücke. Can you imagine the scene back then, before the park became what it is today? The Leutraquelle was just a simple washing fountain, its unusually clear, lime-rich water perfect for “lautering,” the old term for washing clothes. This clarity comes from the water’s deep origins, rising from geological faults. Herzog Carl August, ever the aesthete, saw potential in this humble spot. He envisioned a grotto guarded by a sphinx, a touch of ancient Egypt nestled in the heart of Germany. Martin Gottlieb Klauer brought this vision to life, sculpting a sphinx of Berkaer sandstone atop a large block, while the grotto itself is formed from travertin. Just a few meters from the Sphinx Grotto lies another spring, encased in a circular stone enclosure known as the Ochsenauge, or Ox Eye. This likely appeared later, around 1799-1800, offering another enchanting element to the Leutraquelle. The Leutraquelle, both practical and picturesque, has seen its surroundings evolve dramatically. The Floßgraben, a canal that once carried the Leutra’s waters, disappeared between 1798 and 1801. Its lower course was repurposed to become the lower course of the Leutra, altering the landscape and pathways around the springs. The Sphinx Grotto, one of the oldest features of Park an der Ilm, has become an iconic part of “Classical Weimar,” a World Heritage Site. The original sphinx now resides in the Römisches Haus, replaced by a copy, but the magic of the Leutraquelle remains. Legend whispers that Franz Liszt, the renowned composer, found solace here, perhaps drawn by its mystical atmosphere. So as you gaze upon the Leutraquelle, remember the layers of history and artistry that have shaped it, from its humble beginnings as a washing fountain to its place in a world-renowned park.