The historically verifiable beginnings of the fountain in the market date back to before the year 1439. This is not a deep well, but a cistern, meaning a large container in which water, brought into the city via a waterline, was collected. Already in the Middle Ages, the water supply of Hachenburg was ensured by a waterline that began in the Ziegelhütte area. The spring water extracted there reached the city via a canal, which was later replaced by a pipe.
The current baroque fountain casing dates back to the 18th century. Originally, there was a pine cone on the fountain column, which in 1888 was replaced by Alexander Count of Hachenburg with the Sayn coat of arms animal, the "Golden Lion." In accordance with the coat of arms representations and the seal image, the Sayn Lion has been characterized since the Middle Ages by two tails, which, however, do not stand for "Sayn" and "Wittgenstein," as the county of Wittgenstein, located in the Rothaar Mountains, only came into the possession of the Counts of Sayn through inheritance towards the end of the 14th century.
During the last comprehensive renovation of the fountain, the lion holding the Hachenburg city coat of arms was also repainted. Instead of the previous red tongue, the lion received a blue tongue – in line with the heraldically established colors of the Sayn coat of arms (golden lion on a red background with a blue tongue and blue claws).
At the market fountain, the two-tailed lion sits enthroned, watching over the colorful bustle of the marketplace.
Contact and directions
Alter Markt
57627 Hachenburg