Kindlifresserbrunnen

The Kindlifresserbrunnen stands on Bern’s Kornhausplatz, a stone fountain painted in bright colours. Created in 1545–46 by Hans Gieng, it replaced an earlier wooden version from the 15th century. The original name was Platzbrunnen, but locals began calling it Kindlifresserbrunnen by 1666. In Swiss German, Kindli means little child, so the name means ‘Fountain of the Eater of Little Children’. The sculpture shows a seated ogre chewing on a naked child while a bag beside him holds more children. Historians offer several explanations for the ogre’s meaning. Some believe the pointed hat suggests a Jewish figure tied to old blood libels. Others think it resembles Krampus, the Alpine punisher of naughty children. A few link it to Cronus or Saturn from Greek and Roman myths who ate their young. Another idea ties the ogre to Cardinal Schiner, who led Swiss armies to defeat in Italy. A final tale claims it shows the elder brother of Bern’s founder, enraged by his sibling’s fame. Visitors find the fountain on the square’s edge, surrounded by Bern’s arcaded streets. The ogre’s vivid colours draw the eye, while the bag of children adds a chilling touch. Below, a frieze shows armed bears marching to war, designed perhaps by Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch. The scene contrasts with the calm plaza, making the fountain both striking and unsettling. It remains one of Bern’s most discussed monuments from the 16th century.