Have you noticed the bronze figure of a young man standing so proudly on the Kesterbrunnen? It seems he’s holding a wine flask and looking towards the sky. This is the Kesterbrunnen, a fountain that stands tall in the city of Augsburg. It was built in 1908, named after Theodor Kester, a city council member who left a large donation after his death.
The sculptor, August Pausenberger, created the young man, a symbol of Augsburg’s long and prosperous history. This young man, however, has a secret. You might think it’s just a charming detail that he’s holding a flask, but it actually points to a very lively tradition. Augsburg was once a vibrant wine-producing region. Imagine walking through the city centuries ago, with vineyards sprawling all around!
But the young man’s story takes a twist. During World War II, many fountains, including the Kesterbrunnen, were taken away. They were melted down for materials used by the military. The young man, like many others, was sent to Hamburg.
The bronze figure was later discovered on a scrap heap after the war ended. It was fortunate that the young man survived. In 1950, he was brought back to Augsburg and placed back on the Kesterbrunnen, his wine flask again pouring life-giving water. The wine flask is a reminder of Augsburg’s rich past, and the bronze figure’s return symbolizes the city’s resilience and its enduring spirit.