Easter Fountain in ForchheimOsterbrunnen in Forchheim

The Osterbrunnen Forchheim is an annual Easter tradition in Forchheim, Bavaria, where a public fountain is decorated with evergreen garlands, ribbons and painted eggs. Held each spring, this local celebration marks the arrival of Easter and spring. The city’s Fischerbuben fountain is crowned as the Easter fountain (Osterbrunnen) decorated with thousands of eggs 1 2. Though modest in scale, it is a longstanding tradition that draws locals and visitors during Easter.

This is one of the folk customs of the Franconian Switzerland region: decorating wells and fountains at Easter with greenery, flowers and painted eggs. The custom originates from gratitude for water as life-giving in this dry region 1. In Franconia and Forchheim, these Osterbrunnen symbolize spring and the Easter holiday.