St. Michael's Fountain - Bernkastel

The fountain was built in 1606 by order of the Archbishopric of Trier, not only as a water source, but also as an expression of power and faith . Placing the Archangel Michael on the market square was to remind the population that life was under divine protection — and under the supervision of the church authorities.

The statue is made of sandstone and shows Michael in armor, with shield and sword. On the pedestal are ornaments and coats of arms, including that of the city of Bernkastel and of Archbishop Lothar von Metternich. The fountain is surrounded by an octagonal basin into which the water flows via four spouts.

It is named after the Archangel Michael , the heavenly warrior from the Bible. At the top of the fountain is a statue of this archangel, depicted in a dynamic pose. Michael defeats the dragon – a classic motif that refers to Revelation 12:7-9, in which Michael and his angels fight against the devil (the dragon).

This image symbolizes the victory of good over evil and was considered a powerful political and religious statement at the time.

Willem Vandenameele