Ready to discover a hidden gem right here in Augsburg? We are standing before the Schaezlerbrunnen. This fountain tells a story of generosity and a park’s expansion.
The Schaezlerbrunnen was erected in 1908. It commemorates Edmund Freiherr von Schaezler. He donated funds to expand the Siebentischanlagen. These Anlagen are also known as the Siebentischpark.
The park itself is a landscape park crossed by streams. It is part of the Augsburg city forest. People often mistakenly call it the Siebentischwald, but that’s the forest south of the park. The Siebentischanlagen are a popular recreational area today.
Ludwig Leybold, the city planning officer, initiated the park’s creation in the 1870s. He aimed to compensate for the loss of green spaces due to industrialization. The public also desired a shaded route to the Siebentisch restaurant. Previously, the path led through agricultural land.
Carl von Effner created the plans that Leybold revised. Construction of the park started in 1874. It opened just a year later. An avenue was created between 1876 and 1879. It connected the southern edge of the old town to the new park. This avenue is now Baumgartnerstraße.
The park saw smaller expansions between 1902 and 1908. In 1905, the “Schiller-Runde” was created to mark the 100th anniversary of Friedrich Schiller’s death. It consists of a linden tree called “Schiller-Linde”. Large round stones surround it.
Now let’s focus on the Schaezlerbrunnen. The Schaezlerbrunnen marks the southern end of the Siebentischanlagen. It stands at the transition to the Siebentischwald.
The Augsburg sculptor Jakob Rehle designed the Schaezlerbrunnen. The fountain features a six-meter-high archway topped with a pine cone. Below the arch is a wall with a shell limestone basin in front.
It once stood in a symmetrical green area. A small oak avenue crossed this area. Today, the paths are gone and overgrown.
Interestingly, the Schaezlerbrunnen is part of the “Green Basilica”. Oak trees outline the outer walls of a church. The fountain marks the altar’s location. It is supposedly the only green basilica in Germany.
The Schaezlerbrunnen was nearly forgotten for years. The city’s garden office restored it in 2011.
Here’s a remarkable fact: the entire site is oriented to a pagan point. On the summer solstice, if you sit on the bench behind the fountain at 9:21 p.m., you’ll see the sunset directly in the center of the arch.
Also nearby are natural springs in the adjacent forest. These are the main source of drinking water for Augsburg. Smaller fountains provide drinking water. Signage indicates if a fountain offers drinking water.
The Schaezlerbrunnen is more than just a fountain. It’s a landmark that connects history, nature, and art. It is a testament to Augsburg’s commitment to preserving its green spaces.