Holzbrunnen Valendas

Valendas is home to the largest wooden fountain in Europe. While the fountain used to be the only source of water in the village, today it serves more as a meeting place and welcome source of refreshment in summer.

The story of the origin of his stately fountain mermaid fascinates guests and locals. In 2011 the fountain was completely renovated. This happens about every 30 years.

At the end of the 19th century, 100 head of cattle were soaked at the trough, which was only 40 cm deep but 4.8 by 7.8 metres in size, in the middle of the village. 15,000 litres of water have space in the larch wood well. The huge wooden trough was built in 1760 and has been under cantonal monument protection since 1981. In between, it had to be re-made again and again from local larch: 1850, 1892, 1919, 1952, 1979 and most recently in 2011. The wood of the current trough was felled with the moon waning and stored for two years.