Roland's Fountain, Old Town Square

The Roland Fountain (sometimes referred to as Maximilian Fountain; Slovak: Rolandova fontána or Maximiliánova fontána) is the most famous fountain in Bratislava, as well as one of the city's important landmarks. It is located in the Old Town, in the Main Square.

Its construction was ordered by Maximilian II, the king of Royal Hungary, in 1572 to provide a public water supply. The fountain is topped by a statue of Maximilian portrayed as a knight in full armour sculpted by master A. Lutringer. Its current appearance is probably far from its original look, since it has been modified and rebuilt several times. However its popularity remains unaltered, still being one of the downtown's favorite meeting points. Many legends are centred around this fountain, mostly featuring Maximilian as the town's protector.

Photo 1076, Sept 2008