Lindwurm Fountain

During the 13th century, a dragon was causing widespread destruction in Klagenfurt. This fearsome creature was responsible for devastating floods that destroyed important crossings and posed a threat to travelers along the River Glen. A duke had announced a reward for anyone capable of capturing a dragon. A courageous young man ingeniously used a chain to tether a bull and successfully apprehended the dragon, akin to catching a fish.

The dragon’s skull was discovered in 1335 at a quarry called Dragon’s Grave. However, in the 1800s, zoologists determined that it actually belonged to an Ice Age woolly rhinoceros. The capital city of Carinthia showcased it with pride in the town hall. In 1590, Ulrich Vogelsang utilized it to create what is frequently regarded as the earliest recorded reconstruction of an extinct animal. While it is credited to Vogelsang, it is more probable that an anonymous artist sculpted the masterpiece from a single block of chlorite slate. According to legend, a group of 300 men, all dressed in white, supposedly transported the enormous six-ton beast to the heart of the town.

Although it had been part of the original plan, the addition of a fountain did not occur until 1624. It was during this time that the dragon, which had initially faced north, was repositioned to face east. This adjustment was made under the guidance of Michael Hönel, who also contributed a sculpture of Hercules wielding a spiked club. Approximately 10 years later, a wrought-iron gate was installed alongside these additions.

In 1972, the fountain was relocated once again to accommodate the construction of a parking garage beneath the Neue Platz. The jawless skull of the woolly rhino is currently exhibited at the Landesmuseum für Kärnten, also known as the State Museum of Carinthia.