- Bernkastel-Kues
The "Bärenbrunnen" in the old town of Bernkastel, formerly called Rauschepütz, supplied the inhabitants with drinking and process water. The Rauschepütz with bear on Graacherstraße was demolished in 1899. Since 1968 there has been a new Bärenpütz, an impressive work by Hanns Scherl from Wittlich: two life-size bears - the heraldic animals of the town of Bernkastel - on a mighty fountain basin made of grey basalt.
The supply of water to the houses used to be provided by the Pütz. The word is derived from the Latin puteus (drawing well). The well not only provided water for drinking, but also for cleaning and washing. Many houses had their own wells, but there were also public wells called "Bore". In the Bernkastel district these were located on the historical market square, at the Capuchin Cross, at the Graachertor and on the Pütz of the Rausche- or Bärepütz. Legend has it that the place name Bernkastel comes from the term Bärenkessel, which also explains the bear in the Bernkastel coat of arms.
New and old bear fountain
The old fountain stood until it was demolished in 1899. The current fountain was erected in 1968 on the same site, but in an impressive form. The sculptor Johannes Scherl from Wittlich immortalized the city's heraldic animal twice in bronze, thus commemorating the historical Bear Pütz.