Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Baroque Fountains of Olomouc
Sprinkled around Olomouc's old town is a series of seven alle-
gorical fountains with statues. Since pagan times, Olomouc—
whose wealth has always been based on agriculture—has
had a close relationship to water. Most of the fountains were
inspired by classical mythology.
One features a statue of
Neptune,
the god of water.
Another shows
Hercules
d e p i c te d a s th e g u a rd i a n of O l of m of u c ,
holding the Moravian checkered eagle in his left hand and a
mace in his right.
Jupiter,
the overlord of the gods, replaced
an earlier sculpture of the only Christian saint who appeared
on the fountains: St. Florian, protector from fires and floods.
The
Tritons
fountain—closely based on the one at Rome's
Piazza Barberini—has the most developed composition: a pair
of water spirits and a dolphin carrying a conch, with a fragile
boy leading two dogs.
The culmination of the cycle is the equestrian statue
of
Caesar,
who looks proudly towards Michael Hill (where
legend says he founded Olomouc). The water gods Morava
and Danubius carry the coats of arms of Moravia and Lower
Austria, and the dog represents Olomouc's fidelity to the
Austrian emperor.
The
Mercury
statue is artistically the most successful.
Mercury fulfilled the same role in classical mythology as the
archangel Michael in the Old Testament: He was the guide
through the land of the dead and the messenger of gods.
The modern
turtle fountain,
at the end of the Town Hall,
is the most entertaining. The turtle, who lives a long life, sym-
bolizes ancient Olomouc's ability to hang in there. The city's
history in maps and documents is inscribed on the turtle's pil-
lar. Contribute to a new tradition—though the statue is only a
few years old, the tail (on the dolphin statue) already shows
signs of being rubbed by visitors to assure their return to
Olomouc. This fountain is a meeting place for young mothers,
and a fun place to watch toddlers enjoy the art.
The placement of the fountains and statues at the inter-
sections of roads and squares—reminiscent of stage props in
Baroque theater—imitates the spectacular cycle of Bernini's
fountains in Rome. Since the second half of the 18th century,
every view down any main street in Olomouc has ended with
a sculpture. Look for these as you sightsee, and you'll better
appreciate the town as theater.
