Bierbrunnen
A 1972 fountain on Schildergasse featuring a granite column wrapped in a thin veil of water — named after a brief beer tap that once operated at the site.
The Bierbrunnen is a public fountain installation in Cologne's city centre on Schildergasse, created in 1972. Its centrepiece is a tall granite column that, when the fountain is running, is enveloped by a thin film of flowing water.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Public fountain with modern sculpture
- Location
- Schildergasse, at the junction with Gürzenichstraße; Altstadt-Nord district, inner city borough
- Year built
- 1972
- Centrepiece
- Granite column approximately seven to eight metres tall
- Artist
- Harald Frehen (1947–2018)
- Funding
- Donated by Matthias Harzheim KG, a beer distribution company
- Notable
- The name recalls a short-lived free beer tap that once operated at the fountain
The fountain once actually dispensed beer: an underground pipe ran from the fountain to a beer wagon parked in a nearby side street, allowing passersby to be served Kölsch right at the fountain – which is how it got the name 'Bierbrunnen' (beer fountain).
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
Origins
From the mid-1960s onwards, car traffic was progressively removed from Cologne's inner city, and the newly created pedestrian zones were fitted with works of public art. A modern sculpture was planned for the Schildergasse site. A competition open to students of the newly founded Fachhochschule Köln (1971) was held to find a realisable design, and the jury chose the proposal by 24-year-old Harald Frehen from Süchteln.
Installation
Frehen realised his design in 1972 as a multi-tonne granite monolith. On 26 March, a crane lifted the column onto its prepared foundation. The official unveiling followed on 6 May 1972. A satirical column in the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger at the time described it as a "crooked post" whose water could only be spotted up close.
The Beer Tap
The fountain got its name from a planned annual — but in practice very brief — free beer tap. A hidden underground pipe connected the fountain to a beer truck parked in a nearby side street, allowing passers-by to be served complimentary Kölsch to their surprise and delight. The tap did not last long. The name also echoes the memory of the Haus Mirwiler, which stood on Schildergasse for over 200 years and served as the guildhall of Cologne's brewers.
The Artist
Harald Frehen (1947–2018) was reported to have been a master student of dean Joseph Jaekel. He went on to work as a sculptor, graphic artist, and painter in Schieder-Schwalenberg.
Timeline
- Mitte der 1960er-JahreCar traffic gradually removed from Cologne city centre, pedestrian zones created
- August 1971Newly founded FH Cologne launches student design competition for the fountain
- 1972Harald Frehen (24) wins competition; design: granite column approx. 7–8 m tall
- 26. März 1972Multi-tonne monolith lifted onto prepared foundation by crane
- 6. Mai 1972Official inauguration of the fountain
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
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Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26