Did a goose girl inspire the Gänseliesel-Brunnen? We’re standing before the Gänseliesel-Brunnen. Let’s unravel its story. This fountain, one of Hanover’s oldest, has a fascinating history. Created in 1897 or 1898 by Carl Dopmeyer, the Gänseliesel-Brunnen depicts a girl tending to geese. It originally stood on Goseriede, a street named after the practice of herding geese to pastures outside the city walls. “Goseriede” translates to “goose ditch” or “goose grazing area.”
The Gänseliesel-Brunnen showcases a barefoot girl in peasant clothing, lovingly watching over her geese. Four bronze reliefs on the granite column tell a rural story. They depict a stag in the woods, a farmhouse, a hunter with his dog, and a fox hunting geese. These images capture a time when livestock grazed outside the city. The fountain’s relocation to Steintorplatz in 1984 marked a shift in its story. It remained there until August 2024, offering refreshing sprays of water from the mouths of a frog, a goose, and a grouse.
The Gänseliesel-Brunnen is now returning to its original home on Goseriedeplatz. This move connects us back to the fountain’s historical and cultural significance. Unlike her “sister” in Göttingen, the Hanover Gänseliesel is not kissed by graduating students. The Göttingen Gänseliesel, standing since 1901, is reportedly the most kissed woman in the world. Our Gänseliesel, however, holds a unique charm. She represents a bygone era. She stands as a testament to Hanover’s rural past. The Gänseliesel-Brunnen is more than just a fountain. It is a portal to Hanover’s history.