The Singing Fountain at Belvedere in Prague / Zpívající fontána u Belvedéru
N 50° 05.617 E 014° 24.289
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The famous Singing Fountain in Prague is to be found in The Royal garden in front of the Queen's Anne Summer Palace (Belvedere). It was created by bell-caster Master Tomáš Jaroš, who also made the biggest bell for St. Vitus Cathedral...
Waymark Code: WM68FK
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 04/22/2009
Views: 217
The Singing Fountain (In Czech: Zpívající fontána) is situated in the Royal gardens of Prague Castle near the Royal Summer Palace of Queen Anne, commonly referred to as the Belvedere. The fountain is the work of two men, who commenced their task in 1562: the court painter Francesco Terzio, who was responsible for the design, and Master Tomáš Jaroš of Brno, bell-caster, gunsmith and metal-founder. The fountain was finished in 1568; about 8000 kilograms (almost 18,000 pounds) of copper and 400 kilograms (almost 900 pounds) of tin went into its construction.
The fountain consists of two superimposed basins supported by a robust central column. The shaft is decorated with four mythical figures, while the fountain itself is crowned with the figure of a bagpiper. Water flows into the basins through spouts in the shape
of human and animal heads, and the drops of water falling on the thin metal produce an odd music-like sound. This is especially noticeable when it is windy, and the intensity of the flow of water increases. This odd phenomenon gave rise to the appellation "Singing Fountain". This wonderful ornament of the Royal Garden has been famous ever since it was first erected, when it was hailed as one of the wonders of Prague.