Elisenbrunnen (Elise Fountain), Aachen (must see)

The Elise Fountain isn't a fountain in the traditional sense. Instead, this early 19th-century pavilion houses a drinking fountain that takes water from the Aachen thermal springs. The sulfur-smelling water reminds visitors of the importance of the mineral springs in Aachen's history.

The city council conceived the idea of building a grand fountain hall in 1819. The rear section of the pavilion was built on the remains of the medieval Barbarossa Wall.

Of course, the thermal springs had attracted visitors to Aachen long before the city dreamed up the Elise Fountain. During Roman times, spas were built here as far back as 70 AD. The Büchel Thermal Baths (Bücheltherme), with over 2,500 square meters of floor area, operated until at least the last years of the fourth century.

The structure is named for Prussian Crown Princess Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, who was the daughter of Bavarian King Maximilian I. She later became the wife of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. There is a marble bust of Elise in the rotunda. It was carved by sculptor Christian Friedrich Tieck and made from Carrara marble.

The building was heavily damaged in World War II and reconstructed in the decades after. There was fierce debate at the time as to whether or not the facility should be modernized. In the end, reconstruction work was completed that left the structure unchanged from the original.

Behind Elise Fountain is a garden and a small park. A smaller fountain was set up in the late 19th century so guests could partake without leaving the park. While the original intent was to provide water for drinking, the chemical composition of the water is now such that it can only be consumed as a medicinal product with a prescription. As a result, "do not drink the water" is posted throughout the facility.