Have you ever heard the tale of a woman wrongly accused? Right here at the Genovevabrunnen, her story comes to life. This fountain is not just a place to cool off. It’s a reminder of a medieval legend.
The Genovevabrunnen was created by Hermann Geibel in 1933. It sits in Valleyplatz. You will find it as you head out of town on Lindwurmstrasse. Turn into Implerstrasse after the underpass near the Kreisverwaltungsreferat. Head towards Thalkirchen, and you will soon see Valleyplatz on your right.
Here, the Genovevabrunnen tells the story of Genoveva of Brabant. The sculpture depicts Genoveva realistically rendered in shell limestone. She reclines on her left side. Her thighs are slightly apart. Her lower legs are crossed. She rests on a three-tiered rectangular base at the edge of a large fountain basin. The basin is often full of stones and toys.
According to the legend, Genoveva’s husband, Graf Siegfried von Brabant, went to fight against the Arabs in 732. During his absence, his steward, Golo, tried to seduce Genoveva. When she refused, he accused her of adultery with the cook. Genoveva was sentenced to death. Instead, she was banished to the wilderness with her newborn son.
In the sculpture, a fawn lies next to Genoveva. The fawn is suckling her baby, named Schmerzensreich. The deer acts as a wet nurse for Genoveva’s child. After seven years, Graf Siegfried found Genoveva. He was hunting and came across the deer nursing his son. Genoveva was brought home, and the wicked steward was punished.
Look closely at the base of the Genovevabrunnen. There is a water tap accessible only to dogs. This drinking water outlet sits beneath the figure of Genoveva. The Genovevabrunnen is more than just a fountain. It’s a symbol of resilience and justice. It reminds us that truth will always prevail.