Bern
Fountains
Switzerland
A 16th century drinking fountain topped by Samson killing a lion (a biblical story); Kramgasse, a street that was also home for a while to Albert Einstein at No.49, Einsteinhaus.
Berne provides the thirsty passer-by with over 100 drinking fountains, eleven of which are crowned by allegorical statues from the 16th century, usually colourful and occasionally grotesque.
Taking an arcade break overlooking the blindfolded eyes of the Justice Fountain in Gerechtigkeitsgasse.
Probably Bern's most gruesome fountain-statue is in Kornhausplatz, an ogre eating children from his belt-pantry, the Kindlifresserbrunnen. The origin of the concept is lost in time but it is most likely to be a traditional monster used by Swiss parents to scare disobedient children into cleaning their rooms.
And there's another of those soldier-bears! But what is it doing? Licking the helmet clean? Inspecting it for damage? Looking for honeybees?
A delightful collection of non-traditional Swiss cows.
Berne Museum.
For more strange historic sculptures try the excellent Berne Historic Museum with its fine displays of worldwide artefacts (Asia and Egypt) as well as local treasures (closed Mondays). The building also contains the Einstein Museum.
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