The fountain Rocket (source: Courtesy of Bratisla City Council)
The first four fountains in Bratislava city centre began to jet water on Monday, April 15. These are the Ganymede fountain in front of the historical building of the Slovak National Theatre and the girl with a deer, both on Hviezdoslavovo Square, the woman with a jug on Františkánske Square and the lion with a coat-of-arms in front of Stará Tržnica market hall on SNP Square. Other fountains and drinking fountains will be launched gradually.
“This year we will add two drinking fountains,” said Peter Bubla, spokesperson for the Bratislava city council, as cited in the press release. Later this year one will be built on Castle Hill and the second one in the park on Svoradova Street in the Old Town.
Bratislava features over 150 fountains, but of these, the municipal GIS administers 55, including 11 drinking fountains and three wells. Of these, 38 fountains and 10 drinking fountains will be in operation this year. Unlike the water of the drinking fountains, the water in other fountains is not potable.
Rocket in the mist
Last year the city, in cooperation with GIS, mended and modernised several fountains. One of them was the fountain of a rocket in the park on Kvačalova Street in Ružinov borough. The fountain not only got a replica of the rocket, which disappeared shortly after the fountain was launched in 1974, but also a water mister and modern lightening in several colours.
“The mist creates the impression of a rocket starting up,” said Bubla. “Thanks to this it has become a unique ‘smoking’ fountain in the city.”
Other popular fountains repaired last year are the cascade of the Family fountain on Karloveská Street from 1980, the Marína fountain on Šafárikovo Square and the fountains in the park in front of the Justice Palace.
The Maximilian Fountain resumes previous look
The GIS is currently working on the Maximilian Fountain in the Main Square which will get back its Renaissance look, including the return of the peeing boys. The first phase of the works will be complete by the end of May. During following phases, workers will remove the modern stone ring from the fountain, which was added in 2005 and add stairs to it.
