If you are in Koblenz and visit Koblenz Town Hall, you are not far from the Schängel fountain (Schängelbrunnen). As small as it is, it is nevertheless one of Koblenz’s sights. To see it, you have to go through a stone portal from Jesuit square (Jesuitenplatz) to Willi-Hörter-Platz, today’s Rathaushof. Once you have arrived at the Rathaushof, you will see the Schängelbrunnen fountain on the right. The special thing about the Koblenz Schängel fountain is that the little Schängel spits water every few minutes. The jet of water reaches far beyond the edge of the fountain. If you stand too close to it, you will get wet. Willi-Hörter-Platz is surrounded by the Renaissance and Baroque buildings of the Jesuit ensemble. That makes it very special.
History: Koblenz Schängel fountain symbolises Koblenz’s cheerful way of life
The term Schängel has its origins in the almost 20-year affiliation of the city of Koblenz to France. This was from 1794 to 1813, during which time Franco-German children were born who were often given the name Jean (German: Johann or Hans). In the dialect and pronunciation of the people of Koblenz, ‘Jean’ usually became ‘Schang’. After some time, this developed into the diminutive Schängel.
The Koblenz Schängel fountain symbolises the Rhenish way of life – characterised by wit, quick-wittedness and a twinkle in the eye. So it’s no wonder that many Koblenz residents refer to themselves as ‘Schängel’. The bronze figure shows a cheeky boy who unexpectedly spits water – a bit of fun for anyone who gets too close to him.
The fountain is dedicated to the Koblenz local poet Josef Cornelius (1849-1943), who wrote the lyrics to the famous Schängellied – the city’s unofficial anthem. The monument was designed by the artist Carl Burger back in 1940. The model was the then eleven-year-old Rudolf Dany, who received a fee of 50 pfennigs for each session. The fountain was officially inaugurated in 1954.
Today, the Koblenz Schängel fountain is much more than a simple fountain. It is a reminder of the cheerful, humorous side of the city, a popular photo motif and at the same time an integral part of Koblenz’s identity and culture.
Special tips: Enjoy the atmosphere of the Rathaushof
The Rathaushof, where the Schängelbrunnen fountain is located, is a picturesque place. It is ideal for relaxing and daydreaming in the centre of Koblenz. Take your time and enjoy the special atmosphere. Beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings surround Willi-Hörter-Platz. The inner courtyard is planted with greenery. Old trees provide shade. You can sit down on a bench and relax. It’s worth taking a look at the fountain. Especially when the Schängel strikes unexpectedly and gets unsuspecting visitors wet.
The Schängelbrunnen is also a beautiful photo motif. An insider tip is to photograph the fountain from the town hall courtyard. Here you have a beautiful perspective of the fountain with the old buildings in the background.
Surroundings: Numerous Koblenz sights nearby
You can visit numerous other sights in Koblenz from the Schängel fountain. The town hall square is located in Koblenz Old Town, so you can visit all the sights here. Koblenz Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss) is around 10 minutes’ walk away. Koblenz Castle is an impressive building. In front of it is the castle garden, which was beautifully landscaped as part of the Federal Garden Show. The German Corner (Deutsches Eck) is also only a 10-minute walk away and is definitely worth a visit. This is where the Rhine and Moselle meet – and the imposing Kaiser Wilhelm monument towers impressively over the confluence. A pleasant walk along the Rhine takes you to the cable car (Seilbahn) in Koblenz. This takes you on a scenic ride to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. It is located above Koblenz and offers a fantastic view of the city.
