Frosch

A bronze frog, frozen mid-leap. That’s what greets you here at the Frosch fountain in Zurich. This isn’t just any amphibian artwork. It represents Christoph Froschauer, a pivotal figure in Zurich’s history. Froschauer’s legacy is etched not just in bronze, but in the very fabric of this city. Born around 1490, Christoph Froschauer made his way to Zurich in 1515. He brought with him the printer’s trade, learned from his uncle in Augsburg. Working for Hans Rüegger, Froschauer built a printing press. Upon Rüegger’s death in 1517, Froschauer married his widow, inheriting both her hand and the printing press. His citizenship in Zurich followed in 1519. Now, imagine Zurich in the early 16th century. A city on the cusp of religious reformation. Froschauer, with his printing press, played a crucial role in this transformation. He printed the works of Erasmus, Luther, and most importantly, Zwingli. The Froschauer Bible, the Zwinglian Bible translation, emerged from his workshop. This workshop became the foundation of the renowned Orell Füssli publishing house. An interesting anecdote about Froschauer involved a sausage-eating gathering he hosted during Lent in 1522. This seemingly simple act sparked a conflict with the clerical establishment. It became a catalyst for the Reformation in Zurich. The Frosch fountain, with its boy riding a giant frog, commemorates this influential printer. The fountain, originally erected in 1585 by Balthasar Bingiser, has been moved and rebuilt several times throughout history. It finally found its home here, near the Prediger Church. So, the next time you pass by the Frosch, take a moment to appreciate the story it tells. A story of a printer, a frog, and a city transformed.