What if a fountain could be more than just water and stone? The Dulger-Brunnen is such a place. It is more than just a fountain. It’s a Heidelberg landmark with a story.
Located at the beginning of Heidelberg’s Hauptstrasse on Bismarckplatz, the Dulger-Brunnen is a popular meeting spot. Locals affectionately call it the “Spaghetti Fountain” or “Spaghetti Column”.
However, this nickname is not without its reasons. The fountain features a unique sculpture. It looks like a jumble of spaghetti. But this striking sculpture is currently not installed. It is waiting for repairs.
Let’s delve into the story of this unique fountain. The Dulger-Brunnen was donated to the citizens of Heidelberg in 1985. Sigrid and Viktor Dulger gifted it. This was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their company, Prominent. Prominent is a Wieblingen-based manufacturer of metering pumps.
The fountain was designed by the Berlin artist couple Brigitte and Martin Matschinsky-Denninghoff. Their creation quickly became a beloved landmark. It added a touch of whimsy to Bismarckplatz.
The Dulger-Brunnen consists of two main parts. The first is a red sandstone base weighing 1.8 tons. The second is an stainless steel sculpture weighing 800 kg. The sculpture stands 2.50 meters high and 4.20 meters wide.
Unfortunately, the “Spaghetti Sculpture” had to be removed for safety reasons. The sandstone base suffered a crack during winter. The city suspects residual moisture in the fountain caused this. Since late February, the “spaghetti” have been stored at the municipal depot in Heidelberg-Kirchheim.
The city initially planned to have the fountain running again by Easter. This has been delayed by three to four months. A suitable stone must be found and processed. The city of Heidelberg estimates the costs at around 30,000 euros.
The Dulger-Brunnen is more than just a fountain. It is a symbol of community. It represents art and local history. It also embodies the generosity of Viktor Dulger.
Viktor Dulger was an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur. He was also a patron of the arts and sciences. Born in 1935, he founded Chemie und Filter in 1960. This company is now ProMinent Dosiertechnik GmbH. Dulger received many honors. These include the Federal Cross of Merit and the Diesel Medal in Gold. He passed away in 2016. However, his legacy lives on.
Even though the sculpture is temporarily absent, the Dulger-Brunnen remains a focal point. It reminds us of the power of art. It also reminds us of community spirit. Hopefully, the “Spaghetti Sculpture” will soon return. It will continue to delight locals and visitors alike. The Dulger-Brunnen continues to be a symbol of Heidelberg.