Have you ever felt the playful spray of a mischievous fountain? Welcome to the Libellenbrunnen in Stuttgart-Nord. This isn’t just any fountain. It’s a whimsical masterpiece crafted in 1904. Three artists Emil Kiemlen Wilhelm Scholter and Kurt Fanghänel brought it to life. It stands proudly at the intersection of Herdweg and Relenbergstraße.
The Libellenbrunnen wasn’t always so enchanting. It replaced an old watering trough for cattle. Imagine the change. From simple livestock needs to an artistic marvel. The bronze figures a faun’s mask and a dragonfly girl were sadly melted down during World War II for war materials. This wasn’t the end though. The faun’s mask reappeared in 1950. Amazingly the mold for the dragonfly girl was found at the Strassacker foundry in Süßen. She was recast. The Libellenbrunnen was fully restored during the reconstruction of the Relenbergstraße’s junction with Herdweg.
The fountain is made of French limestone. Two basins and a central pillar sit on a slightly elevated granite platform. The faun’s bronze mask with goat ears is embedded in the pillar. He’s looking sideways. A bronze dragonfly girl leans against the pillar. She tickles the faun’s ear with a reed stem. Water flows from the faun’s mouth. It’s a charming scene. A 1904 article described it as “an incredibly charming genre picture full of humor and fresh zest for life”.
The faun and dragonfly are symbols of fertility. They connect to the fountain’s past as a cattle watering place. In Roman mythology fauns protected farmers shepherds fields and cattle. Dragonflies are linked to Freya the Germanic goddess of fertility. The shape of the basins also hints at its original purpose.
The Libellenbrunnen is more than just a fountain. It’s a story of creation destruction and rebirth. It’s a symbol of Stuttgart’s resilience and artistic spirit. A testament to the enduring power of art and the magic of a playful water feature. So take a moment. Soak in the history. Let the playful water touch your face. Feel the charm of the Libellenbrunnen.