Here at Solalindenstrasse 24 stands the Drudenbrunnen. This fountain has a story etched in stone and bronze. Let’s delve into the tale of the Drudenbrunnen. It is more than just a water feature.
The Drudenbrunnen was created by Josef Kaltenbach. He was a sculptor. The fountain was gifted to Neu-Trudering by the free association of interests. This happened to celebrate their 10-year anniversary in 1929. The inscription on the back of the Drudenbrunnen’s pillar tells this story.
Look at the octagonal basin made of shell limestone. Above, a pillar rises, also crafted from shell limestone. A bronze sculpture sits atop this pillar. It shows a rather delicate Drude. To see it better you need an opera glass or a camera with a telephoto lens. The Drude rides on a broom and cloud. She seems eager for Walpurgis Night.
Do you see the horned faun’s head? It is bronze. Water flows from it. It flows onto a pentagram star. This star is a Drudenfuß.
The Drudenbrunnen’s creation links back to Trudering’s name. The festschrift from August 26, 1929, clarifies this. It explains the choice of the Drude figure. The name ‘Drudering’ sounded like Drude. But Trudering is actually named after a Germanic immigrant. His name was Truchtaro.
Consider the times when the Drudenbrunnen was erected. The people of Munich had endured much. The Spanish flu had caused 50 million deaths worldwide. World War I had ended. The Red Terror in Russia was over. A simple man then had an idea. He wanted freedom and his own land. He founded a settlement on barren heath near a large forest. Other cooperatives followed. These supplied water, electricity, and road development.
The festschrift speaks of a longing for freedom. It also mentions ‘Blubo and Brausi’. This means blood and soil, customs, and clan. This hints at something ‘folkish’. The Drude rides over the fountain’s source. She heads into the forest’s darkness. The festschrift interprets this as a connection to legend and homeland.
The cooperative board urged that any damage to the Drudenbrunnen be prosecuted. The annual water consumption in 2005 was 804 cubic meters.
The Drudenbrunnen stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of a community’s resilience. It embodies their connection to local legends. The Drudenbrunnen is a blend of art, history, and folklore.