They are the most famous landmark of Munich’s Ludwig Maximilian University: the two fountains that stand on the right and left of Ludwigstrasse in front of the LMU main building. They had been enclosed since May 2023 because they were being renovated. The work is now finished and the scaffolding has been dismantled. The water will be turned on on Monday. Then the State Office for Monument Protection and the university will also announce details about the restoration and explain what the bright color is all about, which has attracted many attentions since it was unveiled.
It was announced at the beginning of the renovation that the two fountains would be painted a green, which would be close to the color that is reminiscent of the layer of corrosion that forms on copper over time. At the time, however, there was no mention of the fact that the green could be so brilliant. Originally, the two fountain columns, which were more than eight meters high and were cast from iron, were painted gold.
The fountains were built between 1840 and 1844. The then King Ludwig I paid for them from the part of the state treasury that he could use privately. In 1848 he gave it to the citizens (i.e. the Free State), but the property remained in the possession of the city of Munich. It was therefore unclear for a long time who would take care of the preservation of the buildings. This mess is now being cleared up: in the future, the LMU property department will be responsible.
Ludwig I originally only wanted a fountain that would stand in the middle of Ludwigstrasse in front of the main building, which was completed in 1840. But Friedrich von Gärtner, the architect, didn’t like that at all. He was not only responsible for the construction of the LMU, but also for making Ludwigstrasse a boulevard. Gärtner feared that the winning goal would then attract less attention. He convinced Louis I of the two identical fountains, the shape of which he designed himself, taking his cue from fountains that gush in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
The renovation was originally supposed to have been completed in October 2023. The budget was 1.8 million euros. A new pump system and LED lights were installed. A company known for its bright yellow high-pressure cleaners was responsible for cleaning the fountains as part of its cultural sponsorship. She brought in her most powerful machine, which can generate a water pressure of 1000 bar – devices for the garden reach 180 bar. The new, radiant paint was then applied to the charred surface.