If you visit Bern with children, best stay away from Kornhausplatz, where a fountain could well give them nightmares. Fountains generally instil a sense of peace and tranquillity. It is no coincidence that they are an important element of living principles inspired by the Taoist doctrine of feng shui (literally “wind and water”). However, passing in front of the Kindlifresserbrunnen (baby-eater fountain) in Bern, this sense of peace and tranquillity is in short supply. In fact, the fountain in the centre of the Swiss capital depicts a kind of ogre devouring a baby and holding others crying in a bag, ready to be gobbled in turn. Created in 1545/46 by the sculptor Hans Gieng, the Kindlifresserbrunnen is one of the most visited monuments in Bern and is located a stone’s throw from the Zytglogge, the Clock Tower, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. But what exactly is this fountain meant to depict? According to the website of the tourist office of the city of Bern, “the most ...
