Roland Fountain: Bratislava's oldest fountain on the Main Square
The Roland Fountain (also called the Maximilian Fountain) stands on the Main Square of Bratislava's Old Town and is the oldest fountain in the city. Commissioned by King Maximilian II in 1572 as a public water supply and a monument to himself, it is a Renaissance landmark and a favourite meeting point in the heart of the capital.
Locals call it the Roland Fountain, yet the armoured knight on top is not Roland at all: it is King Maximilian II, who ordered the fountain in 1572 after a fire.
The history of the Roland Fountain
The Main Square had been the central square of Bratislava since time immemorial. Public life took place here, and the market and the town hall stood on it. Because of its importance it also had a well and, from the first half of the 16th century, a large wooden tank that stored water for fighting fires.
Maximilian II was the first Hungarian king crowned in Bratislava, on 8 September 1563. During the games held to mark the coronation, a fire broke out in the Hungarian camp on 12 September and spread to the town. The king became aware of how badly the citizens needed a water supply and had water tanks set up around the city with water flowing into them all year round. The most beautiful of them, according to the historian Matej Bel, was built in 1572 in the western part of the Main Square. It was also meant to be a monument to the first king crowned in the town, reminding the citizens of the ruler and his merits for ever.
The master stonemason Andreas Luttringer from Deutsch-Altenburg in Austria completed the work in 1572. The designer is unknown. The original double-basin form and the Mannerist sculpture suggest a link to court art and Italian sculptors and stonemasons. Instead of the traditional Roland, a symbol of civic freedoms and privileges since the Middle Ages, the king had himself shown as a Christian knight and protector. His figure in armour and helmet, with a sword in the left hand, leans on a shield with the arms of Hungary and looks towards the town hall.
The fountain was altered several times. In the 1730s it was radically rebuilt: the original torso with four boys relieving themselves was removed (it now forms part of a smaller fountain in the courtyard of the former Károlyi Palace on Uršulínska street) and replaced by putti carrying fish. A broad stone bowl from a demolished fountain in the park of the Summer Archbishop's Palace was added as well. The modern marble ring added in 2005 changed its look dramatically. In 2019 the fountain was restored to its 16th-century appearance by the studio of the sculptor Vladimír Višváder, with the 2005 ring removed, the original steps returned and the boys brought back.
Curiosities about the Roland Fountain
- Despite the nickname, the fountain does not show Roland. Instead of the traditional civic symbol, King Maximilian II is portrayed as the knight and protector of the town.
- It is the oldest fountain on the territory of Bratislava.
- The round basin has a diameter of nine metres, and masks around its edge once spouted water into smaller basins that have not survived.
- The original column included a torso with reliefs of four boys relieving themselves. They were removed in the 1730s and are now part of a small fountain in the courtyard of the former Károlyi Palace.
- The cube-shaped pedestal carries a Latin poem in praise of Maximilian, and its east side, facing the town hall, has a dedication inscription.
- Many legends are centred on the fountain, mostly featuring Maximilian as the town's protector.
Tours near Roland Fountain
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting the Roland Fountain
- The fountain is in the open on the Main Square, so it can be seen at any time as part of a walk through the Old Town.
- Look at the knight, who holds a sword in the left hand and leans on a shield with the arms of Hungary, and at the Latin inscriptions on the pedestal.
- Other places on this site within a short walk include the Clarissine Church, the Esterházy Palace, the Johann Pálffy Palace and the Laurinc Gate.
- The 2019 restoration returned the fountain to its Renaissance look, so it is worth comparing it with older photographs.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Roland Fountain is
Photos of Roland Fountain
Questions
Where is the Roland Fountain in Bratislava?
The Roland Fountain stands on the Main Square of the Old Town in Bratislava, near the old town hall.
Is the Roland Fountain really about Roland?
No. It is often called the Roland Fountain, but the statue shows King Maximilian II as a knight in armour. The Slovak name Maximiliánova fontána is the more accurate one.
When was the Roland Fountain built?
It was built in 1572 on the order of King Maximilian II, as a public water supply and a monument to the first Hungarian king crowned in Bratislava.
Who made the Roland Fountain?
The master stonemason Andreas Luttringer from Deutsch-Altenburg completed it in 1572. The designer of the work is unknown.
What changed in 2019?
The fountain was restored to its original Renaissance appearance. The putti with fish and the modern ring of 2005 were removed, the original steps returned and the four boys were put back.
What are the Latin inscriptions on the pedestal?
The cube-shaped pedestal carries a Latin praise poem about Maximilian, and the east side facing the town hall has a dedication inscription with historical details about the king who ordered the work.
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