Brunnen am Karlshof

The Karlshofbrunnen stands in Aachen’s old town, in the courtyard of the Karlshof close to the market square. It was created in 1969 by Ottmar Hollmann from marble, concrete and bronze. Its octagonal plan echoes the dome of Aachen Cathedral. Bronze reliefs cover seven sides, each showing one of the seven liberal arts of Roman antiquity. The eighth side sums up all seven arts in a single image. The seven arts are grouped into the Trivium and the Quadrivium, the core curriculum of medieval university arts faculties. Charlemagne and the scholars of his court took a keen interest in these disciplines. Einhard and Alcuin both refer to them repeatedly in their writings. Later sources from the Carolingian age also stress their importance. Visitors find a quiet courtyard framed by arcades on three sides. The fountain sits at its centre, its octagonal basin catching the light on polished marble. Bronze figures rise above the water, each panel illustrating a different art. The surrounding arcades shelter benches where people can sit and study the reliefs. From the square outside come the sounds of daily life, yet inside the space feels calm and reflective.