Müllerbrunnen

Ever wondered about a fountain that honors both a miller and a poet? This is the Müllerbrunnen, nestled in the heart of Dresden’s Plauen district at F.-C.-Weiskopf-Platz. The Müllerbrunnen isn’t just a pretty sight. It’s a tribute to Plauen’s rich milling history. The fountain was completed in 1902, a gift from the sons of mill owner Gottlieb Traugott Bienert. They commissioned the renowned Art Nouveau architects William Lossow and Hermann Viehweger to design it. Crowning the fountain is a bronze statue of a young miller boy, originally created by sculptor Robert Henze. This figure isn’t the original. The original was melted down for the war effort in 1942. The current miller boy is a meticulous replica, crafted in 1986 by sculptor Wilhelm Landgraf using old photographs. There’s a subtle difference between the original and the replica. The original miller boy’s shirt was open. The replica’s shirt is buttoned all the way up. The fountain itself is a feast for the eyes. A stone base supports four smaller basins and a central pedestal featuring a built-in mill wheel. Thirty-two unique water spouts surround the base and basins, each adding to the fountain’s charm. Look closely, and you’ll see intricate floral decorations, human faces, and even animal visages adorning the stonework. The Müllerbrunnen also honors the poet Wilhelm Müller, who spent time in the nearby Plauen Valley. He penned the famous German folk song “Das Wandern ist des Müllers Lust” (“Wandering is the Miller’s Joy”). The first lines of this beloved song are inscribed on the fountain’s pedestal. It’s a delightful connection between the fountain’s physical presence and the artistic spirit it embodies. Interestingly, the Müllerbrunnen is so central to Plauen’s identity that locals often refer to the entire F.-C.-Weiskopf-Platz as “Am Müllerbrunnen” (“At the Müllerbrunnen”). Although this nickname never became the official name, a street leading west from the square was renamed Müllerbrunnenstraße in 1904. Before that, it was known as Rathausstraße. The Müllerbrunnen stands as a symbol of Plauen’s past and a vibrant gathering place in the present. Each year, the Mensch Plauen e.V. (formerly the Dresden-Plauen Trade Association) organizes the Müllerbrunnenfest around the fountain. It’s a celebration of community, heritage, and the enduring spirit of this charming Dresden neighborhood.