Behold the Gabelmann Bamberg’s oldest and most famous fountain. Its story begins not with a mythical creature or a powerful king but with a simple act of generosity. In 1566 Ludwig Krug a Bamberg native and city council member bequeathed 800 guilders to his hometown. He wanted a fountain built. Moving large sums of money was illegal. So his heirs cleverly hid gold coins in a barrel of salt to bypass the authorities.
The Gabelmann wasn’t always as we see it today. Initially a purely practical drinking water source it served Bamberg for two centuries. Then in 1566 it received its first statue a St George the city’s patron saint. This statue was a precursor to the current iconic figure.
The Gabelmann’s current baroque splendor arrived in 1697. Archbishop Lothar Franz commissioned a reconstruction. Kaspar Metzner crafted the Neptune statue the master of the sea. The inscription on the pedestal not only shows the Archbishop’s patronage but also credits engineer Johann Christopher Bissing for the clever water system that channels water from the Regnitz River. Bissing’s ingenuity overcame many obstacles as later inscriptions suggest.
The name Gabelmann or Goblmoo in the local Franconian dialect means ‘fork man’ a reference to Neptune’s trident. This trident is central to the fountain’s design and a crucial element to the story of the Gabelmann. It was a symbol of Neptune’s control over the sea’s waves.
World War II brought damage. An air bomb explosion nearby left its mark. However after the war the Gabelmann was meticulously restored. It reopened in 1954 a testament to the city’s enduring spirit and dedication to its history. Today the Gabelmann continues to be a beloved meeting place. A symbol of Bamberg’s enduring past and vibrant present. It quietly stands witness to the daily life of Bamberg for centuries. A testament to Bamberg’s resilient spirit and its rich history.