The water stream, today known as Ursel creek, has played a significant role for Oberursel in early times - not only for providing water to the residents. Water potentiated the development of agriculture and therefore ensured and increased economic wealth. While the textile industry as well as oil and grinding mills industry prospered, the numerous mills on Ursel creek created new jobs.
Since that time a close connection between the town of Oberursel and its creek has developed. This connection can still be seen today in the many wells and fountains that have been restored. Every one of the numerous public and private wells has a story of its own. They can be found on the private webpages www.oberurseler-brunnen.de.
The Fountain Festival that takes place on the Whitsuntide weekend of every year is a traditional part of Oberursel's life. The citizens of Oberursel and their guests celebrate the fountain queen and fountain master in historic old town.
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Felsenkeller Fountain
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The building on Marktplatz 1 was aquired by beer brewer Philipp Kamper in 1864 and has been a guesthouse „Zum Felsenkeller“ (rock cellar) ever since. From 1852 on, the basement served as a storage of beer barrels - due to the vaulted cellar roof it was soon referred to as „catacombs“.
In honor of Oberursel´s 3rd Fountain Festival in May of 1981, the Felsenkeller fountain was opened in the yard of this building, on a former watering place for horses. The fountain is decorated by a naturally grown sandrose from Baryt.
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The water from this fountain was considered to be the cleanest water in the area and was used for washing clothes until the 1950s. The laundry was then dried on the „Bleiche“ nearby. In 1979, in honor of Oberursel´s 1st Fountain Festival, the old construction had been taken down and was replaced with the statue of „Die Waeschfraa“ (the washing lady), created by Oberursel's artist Georg Hieronymi.
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„Waeschfraa“ Fountain
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