Lenbrunnen (Len Fountain), Bern

The Lenbrunnen (Len Fountain) in the basement of the State Chancellery building is the oldest spring system and the oldest preserved historic monument in Bern. It is located in Bern's old town at Postgasse 68, entrance via the State Chancellery or Lenbrunnengässli. The well system is no longer in operation, but it can be viewed freely during the office hours of the State Chancellery.

It is believed that the fountain was built around 1252 and was the only source of drinking water for the city at that time. The tower-like fountain with an estimated 7 × 7 meter floor plan is also considered the oldest surviving building in the city. The fountain has a capacity of holding 15,000 liters of water, which is enough for the roughly 3,000 inhabitants living in Bern at that time. It is estimated that a person consumed only 3-5 liters of water a day in the Middle Ages.

Today the fountain has been carefully restored to its original condition. There are information boards, a building model and a hydrological model on site on site to tell visitors about the history of Len Fountain.