Fontaine Schwendi

Schwendi fountain, Fontaine Schwendi, Colmar
This fountain was built in 1898 and at the top is a bronze statue by Auguste Bartholdi depicting Lazare von Schwendi (1522-1583). After the fountain was ruined in 1940, it was rebuilt after the war. With a smaller water basin and a different orientation, the statue is now back on the site of the former customs office.
As a war leader in the service of the ruler Maximilian II, Lazare von Schwendi defeated the Turks in Hungary between 1564 and 1568, from where he brought the Tokaji grape with him. Auguste Bartholdi inspired this legend by depicting his Schwendi statue holding up a vine.
Text / Source: Tourist Office of Colmar and its region, Place Unterlinden, 68000 COLMAR – FRANCE
tourisme-colmar.com/de/entdecken/geschichte-kulturerbe/colmar-architektonisches-kulturerbe/F235008795_schwendi-brunnen-colmar

Romantic fountain, designed by Bartholdi.
On the fountain is the warlord Lazare de Schwendi who was in the service of Maximilian II. Lazare went to war against the Turks in Hungary. This was in the period 1564 - 1568.
Auguste Bartholdi was inspired by this legendary figure to incorporate a vine into the artful fountain

The statue represents Lazare de Schwendi (1522 - 1583), warlord of the empire and lord of Hohlandsburg.
The original fountain was demolished in 1940 during World War II. It was replaced with the current basin, which housed the original statue.
Originally turned its back on the Koïfhus, it was brought face to face in 1954.
According to legend, the vine he wields is the Tokay grape variety he brought back from his campaigns in Hungary. As a reward for his services he received the rule of Hohlandsberg with the Kientzheim Castle.
However, there is evidence that Alsatian Tokay is a Pinot Gris that has been known in the region since the Middle Ages (the Tokay denomination, reserved exclusively for Hungarian wines, has been banned in Alsace since 2007).
Source: Wikipedia