The Roesselmann Fountain is a stone fountain topped by a bronze statue by Auguste Bartholdi, on the Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires in Colmar's Little Venice district. It honours Jean Roesselmann, a 13th-century provost who died defending the town against the Bishop of Strasbourg, and Bartholdi quietly gave him the face of a mayor who had defied the German authorities.
The Roesselmann Fountain at a glance
- Where: Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires, on the edge of Little Venice, by the Lauch river.
- Created: 1888.
- By: Auguste Bartholdi, the Colmar-born sculptor of the Statue of Liberty.
- What it is today: a public fountain and one of several Bartholdi monuments in the old town.
- Time needed: 10 minutes, longer if you combine it with the Little Venice quays.
Colmar's first hero
Jean Roesselmann was the provost of Colmar in the mid-13th century, at a time when the Bishop of Strasbourg wanted control of the town. In 1260 local nobles who backed the bishop drove Roesselmann out. The following year he returned, and with help from Rudolf of Habsburg, the future king, the town was freed. In 1262 Bishop Walter of Geroldseck attacked again; Roesselmann led the defence successfully but was killed in the fighting. Colmar remembers him as its first hero, a man who died for the town's freedoms.
In 1888 the town commissioned Bartholdi to make a statue of him. Colmar was then part of the German Empire, after the annexation of Alsace in 1871, and Bartholdi gave Roesselmann the features of Hercule de Peyerimhoff, mayor from 1855 to 1877, who had been removed from office for refusing to submit to the German authorities. A medieval hero with a modern mayor's face was a discreet political message. During the Second World War the bronze was removed by the German occupiers; it was put back after the war.
What to look for
- The bronze figure of Roesselmann standing on top of the fountain, looking over the square.
- The white stone base decorated with fish, a nod to the nearby Fishmongers' quarter and the river.
- The face itself: compare it with portraits of Mayor Peyerimhoff if you have them on your phone.
- The setting: half-timbered houses around the square and the Lauch flowing a few steps away.
The barrel story
The best-known part of Roesselmann's story is how he got back into Colmar after being driven out. According to the tradition told in the town, he was smuggled in hidden inside a wine barrel and then opened the gates to his supporters. Treat it as a good story rather than proven history, but it suits a town that has lived from wine for centuries.
Tips for your visit
- Come early in the morning, before the Little Venice boats and tour groups fill the area.
- Look for Bartholdi's preparatory model of this fountain in the Musée Bartholdi, a short walk away.
- Continue to the Saint-Pierre bridge at the southern end of Little Venice for the classic view over the river.
Nearby
- Little Venice: the canal district along the Lauch, with flat-bottomed boat trips from the Saint-Pierre bridge.
- Covered market: the brick and cast-iron market hall of 1865, built over the Lauch, a few minutes' walk away.
- Quai de la Poissonnerie: the colourful half-timbered houses of the former fishmongers' guild, close by.
- Koïfhus: the old customs house of 1480 with its glazed tile roof, a short walk north.
See Colmar with World City Trail
Our Colmar scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 33 minutes of walking. The Roesselmann Fountain is one of the stops, along with Little Venice, the Fishmongers' quarter and the Musée Bartholdi. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Colmar.
Play the Colmar scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Colmar →
Play the outdoor escape game in Colmar →
Facts checked in October 2026.