Pisoni Fountain

The Pisoni fountain

The Basel audio-guided tour stops you, just beside the cathedral, before the elegant Pisoni fountain. A witness to a long tradition, it marks a spot where water has flowed for centuries.

A "braid" fountain

The fountain was made in 1784 by the Italian architect Paolo Antonio Pisoni, to replace an older fountain that had become too damaged, and brought into service the following year. The one seen today is a faithful copy installed in 1937 to preserve the original. It is a remarkable example of a "Zopfbrunnen", a "braid" fountain, a style that appeared at the end of the eighteenth century during the transition from rococo to a more sober classicism. One observes elegant lines, balanced ornaments and two carved heads inspired by stylised creatures of the period.

What there is to see

The fountain charms with the harmony of its lines, its basin and its carved heads, a stone's throw from the cathedral. Still in service, its water is drinkable and flows permanently, making it a pleasant place to pause. It is a fine example of the art of fountains, so present in the urban landscape of Basel.

Practical information

The Pisoni fountain is just beside the cathedral, on the Münsterplatz, in Basel. It can be contemplated freely at all hours and on the level; its water is drinkable and flows continuously.

Who made the Pisoni fountain?

The Italian architect Paolo Antonio Pisoni, in 1784; the present fountain is a faithful copy installed in 1937.

What is a "Zopfbrunnen"?

A "braid" fountain, a style of the end of the eighteenth century marking the transition from rococo to a more sober and balanced classicism.