Niche Fountain (Nischenbrunnen)

About the building

On Nischenweg in the Altenberg quarter stands a small fountain in a semicircular wall niche, covered by its own roof. It was built in 1865; the year is on the fountain column. It was probably designed by the master builder Johann Carl Dähler, at the same time as the neighbouring houses at Rabbentalstrasse 71 and 73/75.

The layout is symmetrical. The niche is built of tuff stone, and small side wings lead into the gardens of those houses; short sandstone steps climb to the garden doors. The roof is a shallow half cone, painted olive green, resting on sandstone supports. Towards the street it opens in a gable triangle decorated with cut-out patterns in the Swiss chalet style. The Historical-Topographical Lexicon of the City of Bern describes the roof as Tuscan.

At the apex of the niche is the fountain itself: a plain limestone trough and a column joined to the wall. At times the niche is thickly overgrown with ivy, and a large lime tree stands behind the little building. The building inventory also mentions the carefully laid cobbles and a playful ridge pole. The pergola-like gateway survives only on the west side.

The fountain gave the lane its name: the path, laid out at the same time, has officially been called Nischenweg since 1882, and in the same year it was connected to Rabbentalstrasse on its western side. The fountain belongs to the City of Bern. A detail to look for: the year 1865 on the fountain column.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Nischenweg 4 · Historisch-Topographisches Lexikon der Stadt Bern: Nischenbrunnen · Wikidata: Q56530223