Zähringerbrunnen

A knight in full plate armor stands atop a high stone pedestal, clutching a banner and a shield adorned with a golden lion. This fountain marks the memory of the Zähringen family, who founded Bern in the twelfth century. During the sixteenth century, the city replaced the earlier wooden structures with these elaborate stone figures to demonstrate their wealth and civic pride. The bear at the knight's feet serves as a constant reminder of the animal that defines the city's heraldry and name.