In the center of the second courtyard of Prague Castle stands an elegant Baroque fountain. It was built in 1686 by the architect Francesco Torre, and it was decorated by the sculptor Jerome Kohl.
This fountain is often called the lion fountain, as a bowl with three lions is set at its top. It is held by the mythical creatures Tritons, while the bowl with the Tritons, in turn, is supported by the ancient Greek gods Poseidon, Hermes, Hephaestus and Heracles. In other words, the fountain consists of three levels, each of which has its own meaning. For example, lions are beloved Czech heroes associated with pride, strength and wisdom. They can be found in many sculptural compositions in Prague.
Kohl Fountain was built in honor of Emperor Leopold II and, it is said, on the day of his coronation wine flowed in the fountain instead of water.
Nearby there is a 17th-century well covered by a wrought-iron dome. According to various sources, its depth ranges from 70 to 100 m. In Prague, there is even a legend that the water spirit Paklt lives inside it. There is another tale, however, according to which unfaithful wives were thrown into the well. Now it is closed and fenced with a grate, so there are two possibilities: either Prague has run out of unfaithful wives, or the grate is there to keep the wives from climbing back out :)
