Peter's Fountain - Trier

This fountain was designed in 1594/95 by the sculptor Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann. The fountain replaced a Gothic predecessor.

It consists of an octagonal basin with an elegant column above it. On top of the column is a statue of St. Peter , the patron saint of Trier. Around the column are four allegorical figures representing the cardinal virtues :

Justitia (Justice): with sword and scales

Fortitudo (Courage): with a broken column

Temperance : with a mixing vessel for wine and water

Sapientia (Wisdom): with mirror and snake

Originally the fountain served as a public water source, fed by a water pipe from the so-called Herrenbrünnchen .

An annual tradition is to decorate the statue of St. Peter with a bouquet of flowers at the beginning of the Altstadtfest , in the hope of good weather during the festivities.

Willem Vandenameele