Three bronze butcher boys stand guard here. They pour water into the basin from buckets at the Fischbrunnen. This iconic fountain is more than just a pretty sight. It is a meeting point and landmark in Munich.
The Fischbrunnen history stretches back to the Middle Ages. A fountain stood on today’s Marienplatz in 1318. It was a simple citizen’s fountain. People later called it Marktbrunnen. It tapped into the shallow groundwater under Munich.
Later, Munich got its first water pipeline. The fountain became the first connected to it. Water flowed constantly from four brass tubes. Konrad Knoll designed a neo-gothic fountain in the 1860s. It was the Fischbrunnen predecessor. Bronze sculptures adorned it. Butcher boys poured water. Musical children stood above them. A senior journeyman held a raised cup at the top.
Since 1884, the Fischbrunnen has drawn water from the Mangfall Valley. The year is engraved in the basin. The fountain suffered heavy damage in World War II. Josef Henselmann recreated it in 1954. He used surviving pieces from Knoll’s fountain.
The current Fischbrunnen features a Nagelfluh basin. A bronze fish tops its central column. Otto Kallenbach, Henselmann’s student, crafted the fish. It recalls the market days. Fishmongers kept their live fish fresh in the fountain water.
Butchers’ apprentices once celebrated here. On Rosenmontag, they were freed from their apprenticeship. It was marked by handing over the journeyman letter. The Metzgersprung was a tradition. Apprentices jumped into the Fischbrunnen. They were submerged in the water. On resurfacing, people threw apples, nuts and coins. Spectators were splashed with water. It might have been a baptism. It cleansed youthful sins.
Elector Karl Theodor banned the custom in 1793. King Maximilian II revived it later. The tradition continued sporadically in the 20th century. In 1954, the Metzgersprung was re-enacted at the unveiling of Henselmann’s Fischbrunnen.
Since 1995, the Metzgersprung happens every three years. Munich’s Butchers’ Guild organizes it. It resembles a baptism celebrating the end of apprenticeship. Apprentices march in sheep’s clothing to the Fischbrunnen. They are freed from their apprenticeship. They jump into the water and throw nuts.
Another Fischbrunnen tradition is wallet washing. On Ash Wednesday, the mayor washes an empty wallet here. It ensures the city funds refill next year. This custom dates back to the 15th century. Poor people used it to ask for wage increases. Lord Mayor Thomas Wimmer passed the tradition to the city’s wallet in the 1950s.
Today, the Fischbrunnen is a popular meeting place. People come from all over the Munich region. It stands in front of the New City Hall on Marienplatz. The Fischbrunnen water is not for drinking. But it offers refreshment on hot days. The turquoise basin makes the water look bright. Toss a coin into the fountain for good luck. The Fischbrunnen is more than just a fountain. It is a symbol of Munich’s history and traditions.