The Narrenbrunnen statue in the Marketplace in Buchen (Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg), Germany showing various characters of the Buchener Faschenacht (Buchen carnival) above a fountain representing three wells (turned off for winter).

The characters include the Erbsenstrohbär (pea-straw bear) and the Huddelbätz, with pointed hats and costumed in strips of coloured rags or ribbons, who wear bells and make loud noises to drive out evil spirits.

In the foreground is the legendary figure of the "Blecker", who dates from a time when Buchen was beseiged. As their food began to run out, the inhabitants decided to give it all to one man. Once he was fattened up, they displayed him, naked, on top of the walls. The sight of such a fat rump persuaded the attackers that the townspeople obviously still had plenty of food in reserve, so they gave up and retreated.

The sculpture by Joseph Neustifter was unveiled on 11 11 1998, on which occasion the wells were filled with red wine. Date 18 February 2011, 12:43:45 Source scan from my own 35mm negative Author Photographer:SiGarb Permission
(Reusing this file) This scan is in the Public Domain (however, I retain ownership and copyright of the original prints and negatives and any higher-resolution scans derived from them. If you use the photo outside Wikipedia, a photographer's credit (Simon Garbutt) would be appreciated!