The Anna Seiler Fountain

The Anna Seiler fountain

A stop on the Berne audio-guided tour, the Anna Seiler fountain was built in 1545 to replace a fourteenth-century fountain. The statue that decorates it depicts a woman filling a bowl with water from a jug, a symbol of the cardinal virtue of Temperance.

A tribute to a benefactress

The pillar on which it stands comes from the Roman ruins of Aventicum, the most important city of Helvetia in Roman times. First named the fountain of captivity because it stood in front of the prison, it was renamed in 1354 in tribute to Anna Seiler, who had just bequeathed her house to the city to make it a hospital.

What to see

The fountain is listed as a Swiss cultural property of national importance. Like the other historic fountains of Berne, it brings colour and refinement to the streets of the old town. Observe the delicacy of its statue and the symbolism of Temperance.

Practical information

The Anna Seiler fountain is in Berne's old town, near the Prison Tower. Freely accessible, it can be seen at any time.

Who was Anna Seiler ?

A benefactress who bequeathed her house to the city to make it a hospital, in the fourteenth century.

What does the fountain's statue symbolise ?

Temperance, one of the cardinal virtues, through a woman filling a bowl with water.