Buchhorn Fountain

Another symbol of Friedrichshafen has been located on Adenauerplatz since 2001 – the Buchhorn Fountain. It represents the old and more recent histories of Friedrichshafen, combining history and mythology, embodying references of home and cosmopolitanism, and uniting art and technology in a playful way by using abstract, symbolic figures.

In the middle of the fountain a beech tree stands tall and a horn lies transverse, representing the former Buchhorn. Interlocking gears, a propeller and a motor pay homage to the town’s technical industries: Maybach Motorenbau, an aircraft engine manufacturer, Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, a gearwheel manufacturer, and the Dornierwerke, an aircraft manufacturer. A Zeppelin with a built on face represents the two key figures responsible for the economic boom in Friedrichshafen: Count Zeppelin and King Frederick I of Württemberg.

Unlike the count, the King had never been popular – or rather, his absolutist reign and radical decisions had made him hated. However, the city was still grateful to their King that they were ever even able to attain economic significance. He brought the city together, repaid its debts, extended the harbour and ensured that Friedrichshafen had a solid foundation from which future developments could flourish. Also built on to the fountain are two mice figurines which represent the married artists Rumpf, who constructed the fountain. Finally, there is a rabbit, which serves as a symbol for the “Seehasenfest”.

Following a number of air raids, the city was completely wrecked. Here at Adenauerplatz, only the basement floor of the St. Nicholas Church remained undamaged. The war, followed by the laborious rebuilding caused troubled times in the lives of the people of Friedrichshafen. Konstantin Schmäh conceived the idea of a local children’s festival with the aim of providing a few joy-filled days, and founded a new festival committee in the city council. Children received sweets from the mayor and there were parades, sport competitions, plays, fireworks and a fairground. The Seehasenfest of 1949 was a big success, attracting over 90,000 visitors. The Seehasenfest has traditionally been celebrated ever since, every year in July.