Who could resist the charm of a boy and his deer? Here at the J Jüngling mit Reh sculpture, we witness a moment frozen in time. The J Jüngling mit Reh sculpture, also known as “Waldidylle” (Forest Idyll), depicts a young boy, naked and wearing a Stirnband, offering water to a deer. The sculpture is a beautiful example of the neoclassical style, echoing the design of the surrounding residential buildings. It’s a tribute to a simpler time, a connection between man and nature. The J Jüngling mit Reh sculpture has had quite the journey. Originally part of a fountain created in 1927, it graced a small, decorative square near the Friedrich-Ebert-Brücke. Designed by Munich Professor Josef Hinterseher and cast by the Munich foundry Anetsberger und Lefin, the fountain featured a yellow Leistadter sandstone base. The sculpture itself, a life-sized bronze, was meant to be the centerpiece. The press at the time described it as a “monumental” addition to the area. During World War II, the J Jüngling mit Reh sculpture was almost lost. Marked as a “metal donation” for the war effort, it was thankfully spared. It briefly resided in Luisenpark before returning to its original location in the 1950s thanks to a local resident, Kriminalhauptmeister Wilhelm Gernold. Sadly, the original sandstone base disappeared. The sculpture was placed on a small, unsuitable basalt pedestal, slightly off its original spot. The fountain was revived in 1970 but was shut off the same year due to damage. The “Verein zur Pflege des historischen Stadtbildes von Mannheim e.V.” took on the restoration of the J Jüngling mit Reh in 1993. The bronze was expertly repaired by Glockengießerei Metz in Karlsruhe. A new sandstone pedestal, modeled after the original, was created by the Mannheim firm Safferling. Though the fountain was not reactivated due to technical and financial reasons, the sculpture was proudly rededicated on December 18, 1993. Even without the flowing water, the J Jüngling mit Reh sculpture continues to enchant.
Kleines Kreuz
Hidden amongst the vineyards near Freinsheim stands the Kleines Kreuz. This unassuming wayside cross holds a secret. It whispers tales