Roland Fountain from 1572 is the oldest and most visited fountain in BratislavaThe Duck Fountain from 1914 is quoted as being the most beautiful fountain in the city
This is a list of fountains, drinking fountains and water wells in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Approximately half of the over 140[1]fountains found in the city form part of the picturesque landscape of the medieval Old Town of Bratislava (the city was known in the past under many names) and serve as tourist attractions while many of the newer fountains are fine examples of socialist era building of modern panelák city suburbs. The number of fountains in Bratislava is comparable to the four times larger neighboring Austrian capital Vienna.[2]
Fountains in Bratislava were first built in the 16th century as means of water supply, the oldest fountain in the city is the Roland Fountain from 1572. The first decorative fountain in Bratislava was the Ganymede's Fountain from 1888. The most famous fountain in the city is the Fountain of Love in the borough of Ružinov which was specifically built as the central setting of the 1986 Czechoslovak hit movie Fountain for Suzanne (Slovak: Fontána pre Zuzanu), directed by Slovak director Dušan Rapoš. The fountain features on the movie's iconic poster. Some fountains (such as the Roland Fountain and the Ganymede's fountain) are part of almost every guided tour of the city, while others (such as the fountain Earth - Planet of peace in front of the Presidential Palace) form part of everyday life in Bratislava and are important meeting points in the city.
Due to Bratislava being in the temperate zone, outdoor fountains are turned off during the winter months. For the city owned fountains the operating season starts in April - May, and the fountains are not turned on en masse, but gradually starting first with the major fountains in the Old Town.[3] The season typically ends in October.
History
Bratislava, due to its location near the river Danube and due to various streams flowing down from the Little Carpathians mountains, always had plenty of water. Fountains were fed water from the streams uphill through a series of wooden pipes, later replaced by metal ones. Since the origin of the stream was higher than the fountain it fed, gravity ejected the water at the end. The pressure was usually very weak and used for example as water flowing from the mouths of animals.[4] During the coronation festivities accompanying the crowning of the Kings of Hungary in the city between 1563 and 1830, wine was usually poured into the town fountains.[5]
Originally, the project for the tunnel underneath the Bratislava Castle from the 1940s, today used for public transport trams, contained a fountain to be built into the wall of the eastern portal. When looking inside the tunnel, the fountain was supposed to be inside the wall to the right, but this wall was finally constructed shorter and without the fountain. It was supposed to consist of six small half-circle shaped basins arranged into a triangle, with the water cascading from the upper basins into the lower ones.
A new fountain is planned with the reconstruction of the Malokarpatské Námestie in the Lamač borough at least since 2002, but the project is unrealized as of 2012.[6]
Basic description
The biggest fountain in Bratislava is Fontána Družby on Námestie Slobody, Old Town. The smallest fountain is Girl with a deer on Hviezdoslavovo námestie, Old Town.
As of today, 42 fountains are taken care of by the municipal company Paming - Mestský investor pamiatkovej obnovy,[7] together with 11 small drinking water fountains and 3 water wells, the rest is owned by the Bratislava city boroughs and various private companies and hotels. Annual budget for running and maintenance of the fountains under Paming is approximately 150000 €. Four fountains under Paming were out of order in the 2010 summer season: fountain on Námestie slobody, fountain on Námestie M. Benku, fountain on Uránová Street and fountain on Borská Street. All four would require reconstruction before being able to function again.
One fountain, the Fountain for Suzanne in Ružinov, was specially built as the central setting of the 1986 movie of the same name by Slovak director Dušan Rapoš. Fountain for Suzan is still widely known in Slovakia, despite the fountain itself, hidden behind apartment houses, quickly fell into obscurity. Moreover, it was built as a movie prop, without access to public water or electricity. During shooting, the fountain was attached to a cistern truck filled with water. In 2008 the fountain was reconstructed and made functional for the first time.
Many of Bratislava's fountains are tourist attractions, some of them feature in most guided tours. Occasionally, people are fined for swimming or skinny-dipping in the fountains, in most cases foreigners.[8]
Drinking fountains
There are currently 33 public drinking water fountains in Bratislava. They started to appear after the practical aspect of fountains diminished. In the past, the city featured a variety of historical drinking fountains, especially wall-fountains inside the courtyards of rich townspeople mansions. Baroque drinking fountains of this type included Putto s rybou I (Putto with a fish I) and Scharitzerova fontána (Scharitzer drinking fountain) inside the Apponyi Palace, Putto s rybou II on Biela Street survived until today.[9]
Drinking fountains are used especially during the summer, yet a lot of people are reluctant to drink the water due to fear of disease. According to the Public Health Office of Slovakia (Slovak: Úrad verejného zdravotníctva), all drinking water fountains supply the same tap water as residents have in their homes and the water is safe to drink.[10] Drinking fountains in Bratislava do not feature any instructions on how to operate them.
Oldest standing fountain in the city, it was ordered by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor after a fire in 1563. Major reconstruction in the mid-18th century, outer pool added in 2006. The fountain features in local legends. It is a Slovak National Cultural Monument.
Cikacia fontána s rybou / Urinating fountain with a fish
1572
unknown author
at the 3rd courtyard of the Primate's Palace, accessible either from the 2nd courtyard or via Uršulínska Street No. 6, Old Town
It consists of three parts - the basin is probably from a destroyed fountain that used to stand at the courtyard of the Ursulines cloister, the middle segment depicting urinating boys is from the original Roland Fountain from 1572, which was later topped by a fish fountain.
Fontána s levom držiacim mestský znak (Fontána s levom) / Fountain with the lion holding the city coat-of-arms (Fountain with the lion)
1592
unknown author
in front of Old Marketplace, Námestie SNP, Old Town
The lion statue leaning against the coat of arms of Bratislava is from Františkánske námestie from the year 1592, in the 1930s it was moved to Americké námestie and put on top of a baroque pedestal from the 17th century, originally from the Archbishop's garden where it remained until the 1950s. The lower basin is from the 20th century. The lion is a copy, the original is deposited in the Bratislava City Museum. The fountain is a Category 1A Bratislava City Monument.[11]
Fontána Sv. Juraja / Fountain of Saint George
16??
project by Juraj Lippay jr., crafted by an unknown stonemason
Built in the mid-17th century in the Grassalkovich Palace garden the sandstone figure of Saint George is modeled after its patron, Archbishop of Esztergom Juraj Lippay. It was moved to its current location in 1930. Dragon heads were later reconstructed by Alojz Rigele. The fountain features in local legends.
Žena s krčahom (Nymfa) / Woman with a vase (Nymph)
1804
Feigler family, current version by Juraj Puškár, Andrej Baník
It replaced the pillar and statue of the original "Lion Fountain", which stood there before. In the 1880s it was considered to be out of fashion and it was moved to the courtyard of the Old Town Hall and in 1998 it was moved back. The nymph statue is a copy.
It is a 1981 copy of a fountain Tilgner created in 1874 in Vienna. It is the second copy standing in the city, since in the 1950s another copy was created for the Slovak National Gallery, though it stands only as a sculpture. In a picture from 23 April 1959 the fountain is depicted as standing in front of the Slovak National Gallery.
The first decorative fountain in the city and the first one to be fed filtered water from the Danube. It was inspired by the mythological Ganymede combined with the depictions of species common in the local part of the Danube: frogs, turtles and various fish. It was sponsored by the Slovak Savings Bank.
Kačacia fontána / Duck fountain
1914
Robert Kühmayer
Šafárikovo námestie, Old Town (southern part of the square)
in the courtyard of Georgievits Palace at Panenská Street No. 11, Old Town
The fountain contains the life-sized sculpture of opera singer Oľga Trebitschová (1887-1919) called Cantus by Alojz Rigele, ordered by her husband, banker Dionýz Trebitsch in 1919. The marble sculpture is accompanied by two pillars with flower-holders atop. The fountain is a protected monument with the number 101-506/2 in the Slovak Republic.
Dievča so srnkou (Diana) / Girl with a deer (Diane)
Water flowed from the fountain until 2007 when it stopped working.[13] It was then restored and water began flowing again in June 2023.[14] People are now allowed to step inside the fountain.[14]
in the front garden of the Aspremonte Palace, in Old Town
Created in place of an original baroque fountain which has not been preserved. Main body is made of sandstone, the pigeons are made of bronze.
Unknown name / Unknown name (also called pred Avionom)
1970, 1990
Strahlová
micro park on Americké námestie, close to the Avion building, Old Town
The fountain features a round concrete basin with a diameter of 6 meters, in the middle there is a sculpture made of stone with a diameter of 1,2 meters and 1 meter tall. Water sprouts from the jet on top of the rocks. It is situated in a micro park established by Jozef Mišák in 1933, hidden behind bushes.
Fontána Vazkatana / Vazkatana fountain
197?
unknown author
in the area of the Gymnázium Jána Papánka, Vazovova Street No. 6, Old Town
The fountain features a concrete basin and it was not functional for a long time. The fountain was reconstructed and restarted on 10 May 2012.
There is a sculpture made of stainless steel with dimensions 2,2 x 2,0 meters, symbolizing the water flower Nymphaea in the middle of the fountain. The fountain was out of order for a long time before being restored by Paming on 1 May 2003. The fountain is administered by Paming.
There is a sculpture made of stainless steel with dimensions 2,2 x 2,0 meters, symbolizing the water flower Nymphaea in the middle of the fountain. The fountain was out of order for a long time before being restored by Paming on 23 May 2003. The fountain is administered by Paming.
Not functional due to the canalization being damaged by cars. Sculpture dimenstions: 70 x 140 x 180 centimeters. The fountain is made of travertine inlaid with granite.
Unknown name / Unknown name
19??
unknown author
in front of the Bernolák student dormitory, Bernolákova Street No. 1, Old Town
Akt ženy (Zuzka) / Act of a woman (Susan)
1972
František Draškovič
Karadžičová Street, junction with Záhradnícka Street, Old Town
Vodné trysky / Water jets
20??
unknown author
behind Grand Hotel River Park, River Park, Dvořákovo nábrežie Street, Old Town
Unknown name / Unknown name
20??
unknown author
K Železnej studienke residence, K Železnej studienke Street, Old Town
The main, outside part of the system of fountains that includes one long but narrow pool that actually runs through the main entrance hall and continues on the outside, it was constructed by Slovak company Mramor Ltd.. It is made of steel and tiles.
Pool diameter is 6.25 meters, the fountain is 3.5 meters tall, it is made of concrete and steel. The pillar represents a lotos flower. Constructed in 1985 as a movie prop for the movie Fontána pre Zuzanu, it was restored and made functional in 2008. A new pool had to be built and water is now flowing from 3 stages. The fountain includes a mechanical room in the underground.
The fountain originally featured color lights along both of the veils, these are no longer functional. The fountain itself is functional, although seldom turned on.
Originally constructed for the City Park Medic garden as a kinetic piece using sound and light effects, it was made of stainless steel resting on ceramic plateau, its mobile parts were powered by water and some parts could be moved around by playing children. During the time the Park was renovated, the sculpture was moved temporarily to the Štrkovec part of Ružinov. Later, it was moved at its current place replacing a fountain by Jozef Jankovič.
Vodná ruža (Lopatková) / Water rose (Paddle fountain)
The fountain uses a classic water management solution with an underground reservoir. The piece is made of granite and polished and gilded stainless steel. In the night hours it is lit with different light sources.
Fountain was made of silumin (an alloy of 90% aluminium and 10% silicon) by the Czechoslovak company Zlieváreň ZSNP in Žiar nad Hronom. Doves are 4.5 meters tall, they were made separate and all the pieces were finalized in Sad Janka Kráľa. The water basin has a diameter of 15 meters and it contains water jets that project water to the height of over 5 meters. During construction, the fountain was known as Peace doves on a nuclear mushroom / Mierové holubice na atómovom hríbe.[15]
in front of the dormitory of the Police Academy of the Slovak Police Force, Sklabinská Street No. 1, Rača
Situated in the area called Východné (Rendez), the fountain features a round basin covered in ceramic tiles. The sculpture representing a stylized group of people is made of Chtelnicasandstone. The fountain was not functional but it was reconstructed in 2016.[16]
Unknown name / Unknown name (also called Japonská fontána)
in the area of Štátna veterinárna správa, Botanická Street No. 7, Karlova Ves
The fountain is made of concrete, granite and ceramic tiles.
Chlapec s volavkou / Boy with a heron
N/A
Robert Kühmayer
Vodárenská Garden, between Karloveské rameno and Devínska cesta, Karlova Ves
The fountain is a replica of the fountain that stood in front of the villa of graf Lanfranconi in Mlynská dolina made by the Brno art craft union. The copy was part of the deposit collection of Bratislava City Museum and it was installed at this place in 2012 with the reconstruction of the Vodárenská Garden. The sculpture is made from a metal alloy.
Adámiho Street No. 8, at the corner of Adámiho Street and Nováckeho Street, Karlova Ves
The fountain consists of two basins one above the other, the lower being 14 x 9 meters, the upper 5 x 5 meters. Both are covered in ceramic tiles. The fountain was unfinished at its launch, featuring a concrete pedestal for a sculpture that was never installed. Due to problems with water drainage and repeated complaints about excessive noise from citizens living near the fountain it was turned off after 1 or 3 years (depending on the source). In 2006 the fountain was reconstructed by the city company Paming after repeated complains from the citizens about the fountain not functioning. The technological parts of the fountain were reconstructed while the outside appearance remained the same. The fountain was restarted after 25 years on 9 May 2006. The fountain can be controlled by remote control.[17]
Fontána a potok / Fountain and Water stream
2006
Stanislav Talaš, Vladimír Talaš, Igor Pohanič, Ľudmila Šírová
The square basin is 6 x 6 meters made of concrete and travertine inlaid with blue ceramic tiles. The fountain is not functional, the city claims lack of funds of reconstruction.
The fountain was out of order for some time before being re-painted and restarted at 15 May 2003. It was later restored in 2005 and again in 2007, being repeatedly vandalized. The rectangle pool is 12 x 6 meters, made of ferro-concrete with ceramic tiles, the sculpture representing a flower is made from metal. The fountain is administered by Paming.
In 2011, residents of Vajnory inquired about the possibility to construct a fountain in front of the reconstructed Ľudový dom. According to the Monument Protection Office neither a fountain or a city-type water well can be constructed here due to historical reasons. Instead a village-type decorative pump with a small basin to circulate the water was constructed.[18]
The fountain consists of two separate small square basins. The fountain is not functional, being technically unfit for operation and the city borough claims insufficient funds for operation of the fountain. In 2014, the fountain was converted into plant pots.
The fountain features a simple round basin with a lining of artificial stone. It was constructed probably in the 1950s together with the hospital. The fountain is not functional.
The following fountains used to exist in the city in the past:
Fontána v Rozáriu (Fountain in the rosarium) by Ladislav Majerský (statue), it was originally built in Sad Janka Kráľa, Petržalka in 1937. The statue of a woman was later moved (without the fountain) into the area of swimming pool at Tehelné pole and in the 1970s, the water reservoir was removed from Sad Janka Kráľa (together with the rosarium).
Unknown baroque fountain which stood in the front garden of the Aspremonte Palace, in Old Town, it was replaced by Holubia fontána (Pigeon fountain) by Pavel Mikšík in 1986.
Fontána Rodina (Fountain Family) by Jozef Jankovič, Bachova Street, Ružinov removed in 1974 or 1985 and in 1985 it was replaced by current fountain Mária by Pavel Mikšík.
Fontána Kvety (Flowers fountain) from 1989 by Ľubomír Jakubčík on Malokarpatské námestie 8 in Lamač was a concrete and ceramic fountain that was damaged and not functional. It was removed in 2012.
Inside part of a system of fountains that includes one long but narrow pool that actually runs through the main entrance hall and continues on the outside, it was constructed by Slovak company Mramor Ltd.
Unknown name / Unknown name
2003
Martin Lettrich
interior fountains, Unibanka - not even sure if this is in Bratislava
Unknown name / Unknown name
2003
Martin Lettrich
inside the reception area of "Klub Penati", Agátová Street No. 33, Dúbravka
"Klub Penati" is a private club and the fountain is not accessible to the public.
Ing. arch. Kornel Kobák, Ing. arch. Zuzana Cambelová
A private citizen's mansion, unknown location
Constructed by Slovak company Mramor Ltd.
Unknown name / Unknown name
N/A
unknown author
inside House of Culture Ružinov (DK Ružinov)
Not functional, the fountain is uninstalled from its basin. It used to contain spheres made of stainless steel and chrome and it was designed together with the huge lamp above the fountain.
Unknown name / Unknown name
N/A
unknown author
inside Shopping Palace, Cesta na Senec No. 2/A, Zlaté Piesky
Shopping Center Central, Metodova Street 6, Ružinov
The following interior fountains used to exist in the city in the past:
Fountain inside the lobby of the former hotel Forum (today Crowne Plaza) at Hodžovo námestie, Old Town. The fountain was removed after the hotel was sold and reconstructed.
List of drinking fountains in Bratislava
Part of the drinking water fountains is out of order at any given time.
intersection of Panská Street, Ventúrska Street and Strakova Street, Old Town
Original fountain is from 1900, made in the Czech city Blansko, later removed. In 2001 an epoxide copy was installed which was replaced by an iron copy in 2002. It offers drinking options for dogs, humans and birds. It is owned by the Old Town city district.[19]
In the Middle Ages, every house in the walled city of Bratislava had a water well, usually several of them, being the main source of water supply. They were built at terrain level but also in the basements of buildings. Wells in Bratislava were supplied mainly from shallow waters circulating in the Danube river terraces and from three identified streams originating at Kozia Street, Hlboká cesta Street and at the Slavínhill. As of 2011, there were 66 documented wells in the Old Town. 12 are restored and accessible, the well at the courtyard of the Universitas Istropolitana is the oldest. As of today, none of the water wells in Bratislava are actually used and they serve a purely decorative function.[20]
