Beautiful Well in Nysa

A few steps from Nysa's market square, at the start of Wrocławska Street, stands a well regarded as a masterpiece of Baroque wrought ironwork. The Beautiful Well of 1686 has a forged casing more than 5 metres high, crowned by the gilded double-headed eagle of the Habsburgs. It is all the more striking against the 1960s apartment blocks that replaced the town houses destroyed in the war.

History: the well that could not be poisoned

According to legend, during the Thirty Years' War the Swedes besieging Nysa poisoned every well in town. The townspeople found an underground spring and brought its water to Wrocławska Street, but Swedish spies lulled the guards and poisoned this last source as well, so the town had to surrender. After the war the councillors decided to protect the source better: the windlass was replaced by a pump and the whole well was enclosed in a sturdy grille.

The initiator and sponsor was Mayor Kaspar Naas. The grille was made by Wilhelm Helleweg, as the inscription on the middle band confirms: "At the wish of the worthy Council, Wilhelm Helleweg, keeper of the arsenal, made me in the year 1686". The well was unveiled on 15 September 1686. Residents drew water from it until 1880, when the town waterworks opened.

What to see

• The wrought-iron casing, 186 cm in diameter, reinforced by three bands and closed at the top by a dome with finials.
• The grille's decoration – plant, animal and fantastic motifs, mostly sea creatures and figures alluding to water.
• The gilded Habsburg double-headed eagle on top, a reminder of the time when Silesia belonged to the Habsburg monarchy.
• The well-head of Sławniowice marble with cherub heads and dragons.
• The water pump inside the 7-metre shaft, one of the first devices of its kind in Silesia.

Did you know?

The well blends several periods: its wealth of forms makes it Baroque, the linear ornaments of the grille bear a Renaissance stamp, and the finials recall the Gothic. It has proved remarkably resistant to corrosion, and during the Second World War its casing was hidden in the Water Fort. It was conserved in 1889, 1935 and 1970, and the restoration of 2000 put the golden eagle back on top. Visitors toss a coin inside – tradition says it guarantees a return to Nysa.

Tripto tips

The well stands in a public space, is accessible at any time and is lit up at night. 10–15 minutes is enough to study the details; walk all the way round to read the inscription on the band. Right next to it rises the bell tower of St James's Basilica, open as a viewing point, and the market square is close by.