German fountain

The German Fountain, in Istanbul

The German Fountain is an elegant well covered with a neo-Byzantine gazebo, on the Hippodrome square in Istanbul. The Istanbul audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this gift of the emperor Wilhelm II, offered to commemorate his visit of 1898, assembled in Germany then transported by boat, witness of the German ambitions in the Near East and of the project of the Berlin-Baghdad railway.

History

Here you are in front of the German Fountain, a pretty well surmounted by a gazebo of neo-Byzantine architecture, offered by the German emperor and king of Prussia Wilhelm II. It was built to commemorate the second anniversary of the emperor's visit to Istanbul in 1898, assembled in Germany then transported by boat to here. Why such a gift? The emperor had great projects for the Near East: he wanted to get closer to the Ottoman Empire and pose as the standard-bearer of the Muslim world, with as main ambition the creation of a Berlin-Baghdad railway opening a fast route from Europe to Asia. Such a project then exceeded the budget of the sultan, grateful for the German aid but wary of the real intentions of the emperor; he even suspected the archaeologists sent on the spot of being geologists charged with evaluating the oil wealth of the soils. In any case, Wilhelm II was received by the sultan Abdülhamid II and showed him his friendship by offering him this fountain, that adorns since then the Hippodrome square.

What to see

Here you admire an elegant well covered with a neo-Byzantine gazebo, offered by the emperor Wilhelm II to commemorate his visit of 1898, assembled in Germany and transported by boat; this diplomatic gift illustrates the German ambitions in the Near East and the project of the Berlin-Baghdad railway. The German Fountain adorns the Hippodrome square in Istanbul. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The German Fountain lies on the Hippodrome square, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, reachable on foot. It is a monument in free access in the public space, that you discover during a walk in the Sultanahmet district.

Why was the German Fountain offered to Istanbul?

It was offered by the emperor Wilhelm II to commemorate his visit to Istanbul in 1898 and show his friendship to the sultan Abdülhamid II; assembled in Germany then transported by boat, it illustrates the German ambitions in the Near East, notably the project of the Berlin-Baghdad railway, and adorns since then the Hippodrome square.

Where is the German Fountain in Istanbul?

On the Hippodrome square, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, in Turkey.