Wörthersee manikin

We are in the pedestrian zone, one of the oldest in all Austria. Here, Kramergasse, Alter Platz and Wienergasse intersect. And it is here in Kramergasse that we stop in front of a small fountain, the one with the Wörthersee Manikin. It is an attraction for everyone, young and old. Children especially love washing their hands here or tossing in a coin. A bit like at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, but in miniature. You toss the coin and say: “I will return.” And here is the little Manikin, from which the water flows, flowing down into the fountain basin… full, naturally, of coins. There is a legend here too, which I will not tell in detail. But, in essence, it speaks of the inhabitants of a city that once stood where Lake Wörthersee is today. They devoted themselves entirely to festivities, they overdid things, in short, they lived without moderation or respect. And so, the Manikin, after warning them, opened the tap of his barrel. The water began to flow… to flow… until Lake Wörthersee was born. Today the Manikin still remains here, in miniature form, as a small source of coolness for both tourists and the inhabitants of Klagenfurt. If you want to know more, you can discover the rest elsewhere or ultimately at the kärnten.museum.
And now, after telling you this story, I invite you to come closer. Look at the Manikin’s finger: it is smooth, worn and shiny. Go ahead and touch it. You can even close your eyes: it brings good luck.