Gemsbrunnen

The basin of the fountain was quarried out of a large block of limestone in the city of Solothurn, and then had to be transported over the Jura Mountains to Basel – a task that took 24 horses. When they finally reached Basel, the basin would not fit through the city gates. The city moat was filled, and part of the city walls were broken open. Only in this way was the Gemsberg fountain able to reach its destination.

The chamois perched atop the column of the fountain was made by the sculptor Rudolf Heinrich Meili out of cast iron – a material that was to be used for many other fountain statues in Basel.

Like most other fountains in Basel, the Gemsbrunnen runs with drinking water. It is also one of the city’s most impressive bathing fountains, tempting visitors to have a refreshing splash when the weather is warm.