City walking tour - Krems - Simandl Fountain, Untere Landstrasse, Wegscheid

The Simandl Fountain at the corner of Landstrasse and Wegscheid was built in 1929 to commemorate the Simon fraternity, said to have existed since 1529. In this sculptural group, a prosperous man, judging from his clothing and other attributes, is kneeling in front of a woman who is rebuking him. He seems to be asking for forgiveness or, perhaps, for the key to the house. The inscription “Simandl” points to the meaning of the work and to the people who donated the fountain.

Simandl is a figure that plays a special role in the town of Krems, which is rich in legends and stories. In Bavarian and Austrian parlance, this name refers to a henpecked husband. The burgesses of Krems evidently had such a firm hold on their husbands that the men joined together to form a Simandl fraternity. The fraternity itself was a joke, serving just as an excuse for them to go out together. Once a year, they celebrated a founder’s fest on the feast of St. Simon the Apostle. 
 
next (Mandl ohne Kopf, Pulverturmgasse)