Colourful, hand-painted eggs, garlands of fir branches – and a folk festival atmosphere all around: In Franconian Switzerland, the custom of decorated Easter fountains is revived. In the past two years, the fountains have not been decorated in most places because of the corona pandemic. In around 200 places in Franconian Switzerland, the fountains usually attract tourists from the beginning of April, but also many day trippers. Bus tours or hikes from fountain to fountain are offered. In some places there are also concerts – or you can look over the shoulders of the helpers while they decorate.
The custom of colorfully decorating fountains or water points at Easter has its origins in the fact that water was a scarce and precious commodity on the barren plateaus of Franconian Switzerland in earlier centuries. In order to honor the water in spring, the Easter decorations on the fountains were created. “The importance of the fountains for the country and the people is still emphasized with the Easter decorations today,” said the Franconian Switzerland Tourist Office. There are now Easter fountains all over Bavaria and Franconia, such as in Zeil am Main (photo) and also in other federal states. One of the most famous Easter fountains can be admired in Bieberbach (Forchheim district) – more than 10,000 hand-painted eggs decorate the fountain in the center of town.