The Albrechtsbrunnen wall fountain, 1869
Albertinaplatz
Vienna, September 2017
“When the state decided to take down the Vienna fortifications in the 19th century and open up the area to development, the plan was to sell off some of the land for private construction projects and use the money for public ones. One of the projects so financed was a decorative Renaissance-style wall fountain and monument at the base of one of the few parts of the city walls that remained largely intact (presumably since a rather splendid palais – now the Albertina art museum – stood more or less on top of it). The fountain bears the name Albrechtsbrunnen, named for Archduke Albrecht (owner of that palais). However, locals also refer to it as the Danubiusbrunnen, because of the figure of Danubius at the centrepiece of the installation and the overarching Danubian theme. Unveiled in 1869 on Emperor Franz Joseph’s birthday, this long monument features allegorical figures for Vienna, the Danube river and major tributaries of the Danube that passed through imperial lands.” (The Albrechtsbrunnen wall fountain, Visiting Vienna)
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