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Art in Bern

The figure fountains of the Old Town

Between Spitalgasse and Gerechtigkeitsgasse, almost every corner has a fountain with a colourful figure on its column. Most of them date from the middle of the 16th century.

By Richard Červenka · 1 min read · updated 1 November 2026

The painted figure of Justitia on the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Justice Fountain): blindfolded, with sword and scales, smaller figures at her feet.
Photo: Axel Tschentscher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Until well into the 19th century, people in Bern fetched their water from the fountain. That is why the fountains stood in the middle of the streets, and that is why they were made beautiful. In the 1540s, the city replaced many wooden fountains with stone ones, with a painted figure on the column.

Who made them?

In the City of Bern's data, most of these figures are credited to Hans Gieng, a sculptor from Fribourg (Freiburg im Üechtland). The Zähringer Fountain is a little older and, according to the city, is by Hans Hiltprand.

The fountains and their years

Good to know

All ten fountains are on the Old Town's main axis or right next to it, from Läuferplatz to Spitalgasse. So you can easily see them all on one walk. They are freely accessible, around the clock. Stop for a moment: up close you see much more on the figures than when walking past.

More sights in Bern

Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen: Justitia with her eyes coveredFountains and monumentsKindlifresser FountainFountains and monumentsZähringerbrunnen: the bear in armourFountains and monumentsMoses Fountain on MünsterplatzFountains and monumentsAnna-Seiler-Brunnen in front of the KäfigturmFountains and monumentsRyfflibrunnen: the marksman with the little bearFountains and monuments

All sights in Bern on one page

Also worth reading

Kindlifresser FountainArtArt in Bern: the mapMapThe street is our galleryArt

Data: Kultur Stadt Bern (open data “Kunst im öffentlichen Raum”), © OpenStreetMap contributors. Text: Richard Červenka, Bärn Kit. Found a mistake? Write to hallo@uebrig.ch.