Gutenborn

Kindsbach, Kreis Kaiserslautern, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany

This spring has been used as a holy well for several thousand years. The Romans took it over from the local Celtic tribes when they also took over the fortified Grosser Berg nearby. A carving of the Three Matrons in the rock above the spring

is now protected from weathering by a shelter.

In medieval times the spring was known for cures of the eye problems. Excavations at the spring showed that a Roman potter had operated a small pottery in the immediate area, producing small jugs. Users of the well could

then take some of the healing water home with them. analysis of the spring water shows it contain borium. Boric acid has been used for eye complaints for many years.

To find: Follow B40 west from Kindsbach about one mile. Pass the Waldstadion on left. Stop at next field road entrance and park here. Follow lane heading toward ridge (south) about 1/3 mile until arriving at a pool. From pool, follow sign to "Heidenfels). Shelter covering the spring and rocks is visible on slope above the pool.

Brunnen und Landschaft, Schaefer and Blohn, Arbogast (ISBN 3-87022-130-5)

Die Roemer in Rheinland-Pfalz, Cuepper (ed.), Theiss, 1990 (ISBN 3-8062-0308-3)

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Pictures taken April 3, 1999