Wimmelbrunnen

Why is this obelisk tucked away in the Fürstengarten? This, my friends, is the Wimmelbrunnen. Or rather, the Wimmel-Denkmal. It’s a story of unification, relocation, and a touch of Kasseler irony. The Wimmelbrunnen, inaugurated in 1898, was originally a grand statement. It stood proudly at Brüder-Grimm-Platz, commemorating the German unification of 1871. The 12-meter obelisk, crafted from Teutoburg Forest sandstone, dominated the square. Its red Swedish granite base and black German granite pedestal supported two bronze basins. The Wimmelbrunnen also featured bronze medallions of Kaiser Wilhelm I, Helmuth von Moltke, and Otto von Bismarck. Even larger bronze figures, the Muse Klio and a young man adorning the Kaiser’s relief with a laurel wreath, once graced the monument. Sadly, these were melted down for the war effort in 1942. The Wimmelbrunnen owes its name to the brothers Johannes and Heinrich Wimmel. These Kasseler master plasterers, also amateur painters, bequeathed a substantial sum to the city. This formed the Wimmel Foundation, which funded housing for the needy, supported local trades, and promoted art and science. The Wimmelbrunnen was one of their legacies. Originally placed at the intersection of Obere Königsstraße and Wilhelmshöher Allee, the Wimmelbrunnen faced criticism even in its prime. Some found it aesthetically displeasing and out of place. After the war, the bronze basins, empty of water, were filled with flowers. In 1964, the city decided to replace the Wimmelbrunnen with a fountain dedicated to the Brothers Grimm. The Wimmelbrunnen was dismantled and moved to its current, more secluded location in the Fürstengarten. The Grimm fountain, however, was never built. And so, the Wimmelbrunnen, once a symbol of German unity, now stands quietly among the trees. A monument moved, perhaps even forgotten by some, but still whispering its story to those who listen.