Description

Essentials about the German Fountain in brief

For German tourists, a visit to the German Fountain in the center of Istanbul should, of course, be one of the must-dos. The German Fountain is a pavilion-like fountain structure at the northern end of the Hippodrome, opposite the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I.

The history of the German Fountain

The fountain was erected in 1900 in memory of the vistit of German Emperor Wilhelm II to Istanbul in 1898. It was made in Germany and shipped to Istanbul in separate parts to be assembled in its present location. According to Middle Eastern mentality, the gift of a fountain with free clean water for the people was considered a particularly meritorious act of charity and was intended to increase and secure the fame of the benefactor, the Emperor of the German Empire.

The inauguration of the fountain was planned for September 1, 1900, the 25th anniversary of the accession of Sultan Abdülhamid II to the throne. Delays in construction meant that the inauguration was postponed until January 27, 1901, the birthday of Wilhelm II.

The architecture of the German Fountain

The neo-Byzantine, octagonal, pavilion-like fountain structure consists of a dome supported by eight porphyry columns that rest on a marble pedestal decorated with carvings. On the southwestern side of the pedestal, eight steps lead up; the remaining seven sides each have a brass water dispenser. The dome is covered with copper.

A bronze plaque attached to the fountain bears the following text: “Wilhelm II German Emperor donated this fountain in grateful remembrance of his visit to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans Abdul Hamid II in the autumn of the year 1898” An Ottoman inscription in eight verses tells of the construction of the fountain in memory of the visit of the German Emperor.

The inside of the fountain is decorated with a golden mosaic. Eight medallions carved above the ends of the columns show alternately four times each the tughra of Abdülhamid II and the monogram of Wilhelm II.

Website

Unavailable.

Opening hours

None.

Admission fees

None.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Tram line 1: Stop Sultanahmet

Bus line TB2: Stop Sultanahmet Square

By car:

There are a number of parking garages in the immediate vicinity of the German Fountain.