The Carnival Fountain, also known as the Fasnacht Fountain, rises almost nine meters high on Schillerplatz in Mainz and was completed in 1967. It features over 200 bronze figures, including Till Eulenspiegel, Father Rhine, and Hans Wurst, embodying the spirit and myth of Mainz's Fastnacht – including the famous "Weck, Worscht und Woi." From the balcony of the Osteiner Hof, the greats of Mainz's Fastnacht officially open the Carnival season each year on November 11.
Although Mainz had long been known for its fifth season, the city lacked a monument depicting this tradition. In 1963, the city decided to build a fountain at the southern end of Schillerplatz. The beverage company Eckes sponsored the project and initiated a competition, which was won by Professor Blasius Spreng from Munich and the Mainz architect Helmut Gräf.
In the red sandstone basin designed by Gräf, the nearly nine-meter-high bronze tower rises, populated by over 200 figures. Father Rhine, the monk, Till Eulenspiegel, the city goddess Mogontia, the sack washer, or the paragraph rider – the figures are mysterious, grotesque, and yet familiar. They not only reflect the unmistakable character of Mainz's Fastnacht but also impressively embody the unique spirit of the city.
