Fountain, Brunnengasse & Weed

A Prussian officer who was quartered in Höchberg in 1866 described Höchberg as a ‘picturesque village with bumpy lanes’. He might have had referred to Brunnengasse, one of Höchberg’s oldest streets. It connects the lower and upper village fountains. Brunnengasse used to be paved with stone steps. The floor plans of some of the old houses have been preserved. Only a few of those old houses still have their original vaulted cellars which were used as shelters during air raids in the Second World War. 8, 12, 13

The well at the lower end of Brunnengasse with its striking stone column supplied the neighbouring estates with water. For a long time, the village’s water supply was organized in that way that the fresh well water had to be lugged into the houses with buckets and carrying tubs. 10

In Brunnengasse (formerly Riesgasse 5) there used to be a beautiful sandstone Madonna with her Infant from the 18th century. This statue is probably the work of the Würzburg sculptor Peter Wagner. The statue can be seen at the estate at Hauptstraße 78, at the corner of Martin-Wilhelm-Straße.9

Until 1931, was the Weed next to this well, a brick basin that was mainly used as water supply for firefighting and three large stone water troughs that were used as cattle troughs. The Weed was also a favourite bathing and play area for the children of the village, who romped around there together with ducks and geese.

The fountain was given its current appearance in 1985/1986, as was the entire Brunnengasse.

Another fountain and today’s Weed on Sonnemannstraße can be reached uphill. Cattle were still watered freely at this well in the 1940s. The animals were led from the farms to the well to drink there.11, 14

To the left of the newly built well, a slate plaque with a poem by Höchberg local historian Martin Wilhelm commemorates the following event:
In 1878 there was a harsh winter which meant that the water
flowed slowly from the wells. The wells were
besieged by women day and night to get enough water.
Anyone who missed putting the container under the well,
had to go again according to an unwritten law: queue again!!!

This led often enough into disputes among the women.