The market fountain, called Urschelbrunnen, in 2018. © Ulrike Klumpp

Nagold

Sights

Market Fountain

Market Fountain
The market fountain next to the Nagold town hall in 1944. © Stadtarchiv Nagold
The market fountain many years ago (year unknown). © Stadtarchiv Nagold
The Urschel figure on the market fountain (year unknown). © Stadtarchiv Nagold

Overview

There was a fountain near the Town Hall during the 16th Century. Jakob Reich made the new fountain in 1747. He was the most prominent stonemason, sculptor and builder in the Black Forest region belonging to Württemberg. The baroque style fountain is made of red sandstone.

A local saga tells the story of Ugly Ursula. She was supposedly a daughter of the Counts of Hohenberg, who ruled over Nagold from 1230 to 1363.

The legend says, that Ursula wasn’t pretty but that she had a kind heart. Everyone at the castle called her Ugly Ursula. She often went down into town to help people in need. One day she was found dead at her favorite place near the Nagold River. The sculpture depicting her on the fountain is a fond remembrance of her.

The figure holds the coat of arms of the Counts of Hohenberg, which is almost identical with the coat of arms of the City of Nagold. In a description from 1862 the sculpture is said to be an angel holding Nagold’s coat of arms. In addition, a medieval seal depicts an angel holding this coat of arms. Who holds and thus protects Nagold’s coat of arms: an angel or a magnanimous benefactor?

Interesting Facts

Urschel (Ursula)

The Name is not unique for Nagold. In southern Germany there are many tales of castle ghosts in which there is a so-called white lady, who is very often named Urschel.

Nagold’s coat of arms

The upper part of the shield is silver, the lower part is red. Since 1415 a black lattice covers the red field, with a nail going through both fields. The coat of arms “tells” us the name of the city. The German word for nail is “Nagel”. An early name for Nagold was “Nagelt”. The name Nagold, however, comes from the Celts.

Interesting locations

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