Schängel Fountain

In order to understand the bronze figure "Schängel" that adorns the fountain, a look at the special history of the city of Konstanz is necessary. This belonged to France from 1794 to 1813. During this time, many Franco-German children were born - mostly from a French father and a German mother.

The Schängel Fountain is a landmark of the city of Koblenz and is located on the Willi-Hörter-Platz, today's town hall courtyard, surrounded by the Renaissance and Baroque buildings of the Jesuit ensemble. It was designed by Carl Burger in 1940 and is dedicated to the Koblenz local poet Josef Cornelius (1849-1943), who wrote the lyrics to the well-known Schängellied, the Koblenz anthem.
The term Schängel has its origins in the 20-year affiliation (1794-1813) of the city of Koblenz to France. It refers to the Franco-German children born during this period, who often bore the name Jean (German: Johann or Hans). Due to the Koblenz dialect, "Jean" was mostly "Schang". Over time, this eventually developed into Schängel, a trivialization of Shang.
Today, everyone who was born in Koblenz sees himself as Schängel and loves the little guy who stands for wit, quick-wittedness and the Rhenish way of life.

The bronze figure spits a jet of water several meters beyond the fountain basin in an irregular rhythm.

At this point / I would like to quickly / say something about the source:
To quote the incomparable humorist Heinz Erhardt (1909 - 1979), who was known to a wide audience for his word jokes and "Noch'n poem", with a short quatrain:
"There is certainly much beauty in
on the element, the wet.
Because you can drink the water.
But you can - also leave it."
(H.Erhardt)