Fools' Fountain

The fountain was designed by the Lahnstein artist Hans-Georg Schleifer (born 1940). The bronze sculpture weighs 1.7 tons. The figurative group was cast by the art foundry P+H (Roman Pecher, Lubomir Holecek) in Karlsbad.

It depicts two funny fools who keep the fifth season in Lahnstein alive throughout the year. Although the Lahnstein fools do not juggle with spoons and forks and wear different hats than those shown here, the fountain is a true adornment for the beautiful square, which was created in connection with the old town redevelopment.

Foolish Inauguration

On November 11, 1997, right on time for the beginning of the fifth season, the Fools' Fountain was unveiled on Blankenberg with a triple "Lahnstein Helau."

"Old Hand" Jupp Bodenstein

Since then, the Fools' Fountain has enriched the square, which has been named after Jupp Bodenstein since January 2000. Jupp Bodenstein (1905-1982) is considered the "preserver of local customs and co-founder of many Lahnstein associations," as stated on an attached notice board. He was significantly involved in the founding of the Social Association 1924 Oberlahnstein, which he chaired for 50 years. Carnival was Bodenstein's passion. In 1934, he led a meeting of all Oberlahnstein associations, where a Carnival Working Group was established, which later developed into the Carnival Committee Oberlahnstein (CCO). When the first Rose Monday parade marched through the streets of Oberlahnstein in 1935, Bodenstein was at the forefront as president of the CCO. He held this position until his 65th birthday, after which he became honorary president of the CCO. In 1950, he paraded through the streets of Lahnstein as Prince Jupp I. The CCO took over the sponsorship of the square on February 7, 2005.