“Water-Taxi included” Jan Wellem had a very special relationship with this Jan-Wellem-Brunnen. This is more than just a fountain. It is a historic testament to Düsseldorf’s past.
Johann Wilhelm II, Elector Palatine, nicknamed “Jan Wellem,” transformed Düsseldorf into a European hub. He was a lover of splendor. Under his reign, the city became a center of political and cultural life. Jan Wellem valued the water from this source as a healing elixir.
The source, Jan Wellem’s Quelle, lies at the foot of the Grafenberger Forest. In 1702, Jan Wellem had the spring enclosed with an octagonal ring wall. He entrusted it to hermits. They lived above the spring with their chapel. Jan Wellem had the fresh spring water transported daily to his castle on the Rhine. Imagine that.
Now, a little smart-aleck knowledge. Grupello created the fountain pyramid in Jan Wellem’s honor. Today, it stands before Mannheim Palace. Egeria, the spring goddess, pours water from a jug into Jan Wellem’s ornate goblet.
After 1815, city planner Adolph von Vagedes redesigned the aristocratic fountain. He reshaped it during the era of the civic movement. This is how it appears today.
When the Grafenberger Forest domain opened to the public, it became Prussia’s first public park. Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe, the court gardener, created the “Lust-Garten am Grafenberge” between 1816 and 1819. The Jan-Wellem-Brunnen became its focal point. Weyhe also created the Hofgarten. Vagedes also created the Ratinger Tor.
Sadly, the Weyhe-Vagedes design fell into obscurity. The fountain deteriorated. The park forest became overgrown. But here is another fun fact. Around 1900, the fountain courtyard served as a beer garden.
In 1999, construction workers discovered remnants of the baroque fountain basin. In 2000, the Förderkreis Jan-Wellem-Brunnen e.V. was founded. Things moved quickly after that. Discoveries of original documents led to a plan. The plan was to completely restore the fountain to Adolph von Vagedes’ design. Waltrecht Dilloo, the dedicated chairman of the association, achieved this goal within a few years. The fountain basin and facade wall were repaired. Several heavy natural stone pillars were rebuilt. The cascade was reconstructed. A water pump was put into operation. The flower beds and paths were restored to their original appearance.
The fountain was officially unveiled to the public in 2005. It was part of a festival. It also proved its suitability as a venue for summer concerts. In August 2006, the fence was inaugurated. This marked a highlight in the work of the support association. The fence with the gate was still missing. With the support of the NRW Foundation, this problem was also solved.
The park connected to the Jan-Wellem-Brunnen will gradually return to its original design. The Grafenberg deserves it. It still offers stunning views of Düsseldorf and the Rhine. However, the structure suffers from groundwater pressing against the fountain enclosure. Plaster and paint need renovation. A solution is not in sight.