Fountain Lindwurm-Brunnen

Lindwurm Fountain is the most popular attraction in Klagenfurt. The fountain is a dragon, from the mouth of which a stream of water whips directly into the bowl, and opposite it there is a man holding a cage with sharp spikes.

The same dragon is depicted on the coat of arms of the city. It is believed that the formation of the city in this place is largely the merit of the dragon. According to an ancient legend, in the warm waters of Lake Werthersee lived a huge dragon that terrorized the whole district. The Duke of Carinthia Bernard von Spanheim, who lived at that time in Carnburg, began to build a castle near the lake, appointed a reward for the dragon’s head. According to one version of the legend, a dragon who ate only virgins was defeated by an unknown daredevil. On the other hand, he was attracted by the carcass of a huge bull and beaten to death. Residents of the city of Phillach, located on the other side of Lake Werthersee, say that the dragon ate only the beauties from their city, and when they ended, flew across the lake to Klagenfurt, but not finding there beauties, dying of hunger. Anyway, after the dragon ceased to appear in these places, people began to settle around the count's castle, founding Klagenfurt.

In the middle of the XIV century, during the drainage of swamps near the city, the skull of an unknown animal was found. Who he belonged to, the locals did not doubt. In 1590, the local sculptor Ulrich Vogelsang, using this skull, stored in the town hall, made a monument depicting the dragon and his savior. In 1636, a fountain was made from the monument, adding to the sculpture of the dragon a statue of the hero who defeated him.

Today, the authorship of Ulrich Vogelsang is disputed: it is believed that the dragon was made by an unknown master.