What appears to be a simple fountain is actually a captivating story. This is the Raufende Knaben Sculpture. It sits proudly on the Wenigemarkt.
The Raufende Knaben Sculpture is more than just a bronze statue. It captures a moment of youthful exuberance. Look closely at the figures. You’ll see two boys playfully fighting.
This sculpture was created by Heinrich Apel. He was a sculptor from Magdeburg. Apel crafted this piece between 1975 and 1976. The Raufende Knaben Sculpture wasn’t always here. It was moved to this spot in 1990. Now, it graces the southeastern corner of Wenigemarkt.
Wenigemarkt itself has a rich history. It’s a small market square in Erfurt’s old town. It sits at the eastern end of the Krämerbrücke. Wenigemarkt’s irregular, triangular shape is about 60 meters long.
The Wenigemarkt is nearly the same size as the Fischmarkt. The main trade route ran east-west. It went from Fischmarkt through the Gera ford. This area is now the Krämerbrücke. It continued along Futterstraße to Johannesstraße. Other streets like Gotthardtstraße and Meienbergstraße were less important. Rathausbrücke was added in 1895, parallel to Krämerbrücke.
Today, Wenigemarkt is mostly a pedestrian zone. Traffic-calmed roads run along the eastern and southern edges. Cafés and restaurants line the square. This makes it a popular tourist spot. The Ägidienkirche stands on Wenigemarkt’s western edge. It also serves as the eastern bridgehead church of the Krämerbrücke.
Wenigemarkt first appeared in a document from 1217. But it was likely a trading place since the 11th century. It was initially a market for merchants east of the Gera River. Its name distinguished it from Domplatz, Erfurt’s “great market.” Over time, the market declined. Trade shifted to other places and shops inside buildings. Soon, only local goods were traded here. High-value or long-distance goods were not.
The Raufende Knaben Sculpture embodies the spirit of Wenigemarkt. It shows playfulness amidst the square’s long history. It invites us to remember when this place was a marketplace. It also lets us imagine children playing here centuries ago.