Anton-Günther-Gedenkstein in Breitenbrunn/Erzgebirge

The Anton-Günther-Gedenkstein is a memorial stone dedicated to Anton Günther, folk poet and singer of the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), located in Breitenbrunn in the Saxon Ore Mountains, in the district of Rittersgrün, next to the Wettinbrunnen (Wettin Fountain). The site brings together two strands of local history: a 19th-century monument tied to Saxony's ruling dynasty and 20th-century remembrance of one of the region's most important folk-culture figures.

Who was Anton Günther?

Anton Günther was born on 5 June 1876 in Gottesgab (today Boží Dar) in Bohemia and died there on 29 April 1937. He was a German folk poet and singer closely associated with the Ore Mountains, the mountain range straddling the German-Czech border. He is credited as the inventor of the Liedpostkarte, or "song postcard" – a format combining an illustration with the text of a song, which was widely popular among residents of the region and Ore Mountain emigrants of the time.

Why were the memorial stones erected?

Anton-Günther-Gedenksteine are memorial stones raised in the poet's honor across numerous towns and villages in the Ore Mountains. Between 1937 and 1942, the Erzgebirgsverein (Ore Mountains Association) commissioned a large number of these stones, commemorating both Günther himself and his connection to the region's landscape and traditions. After 1945, following the expulsion of the German-speaking population from the Czech side of the Ore Mountains, many of these stones were removed or lost. It was only after 1990 that a significant number were rebuilt or newly erected – primarily in the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland, but also elsewhere in Germany as well as in Austria and the Czech Republic.

What can be found in Breitenbrunn?

The memorial stone in Breitenbrunn stands in the Rittersgrün district, next to the Wettinbrunnen – a fountain built in 1889 to mark the 800th anniversary of the Saxon ruling House of Wettin. The Wettinplatz square and fountain underwent a thorough renovation in 1991–1992, with a rededication ceremony held on 19 September 1992. Since 1995, the site has been linked to the Anton-Günther-Weg, a hiking trail through the Ore Mountains tracing places and traditions connected to the poet.

Why is it worth a visit?

The site ties together two distinct chapters of local history: the 19th-century tradition surrounding the House of Wettin and the 20th-century remembrance of Anton Günther as a symbol of Ore Mountains folk culture. For those walking the Anton-Günther-Weg, the stone in Breitenbrunn serves as one of the trail's waypoints, offering a chance to pause at the restored fountain and learn about the region's history across two very different eras.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Anton Günther? A German folk poet and singer of the Ore Mountains, born in 1876 in Gottesgab and died there in 1937. He is credited as the inventor of the song postcard.

When was the Wettinbrunnen in Breitenbrunn built? The fountain was erected in 1889 to mark the 800th anniversary of the House of Wettin and was renovated in 1991–1992.

What is the Anton-Günther-Weg? A hiking trail through the Ore Mountains commemorating the poet Anton Günther; since 1995 it has been linked to the site at the Wettinbrunnen in Breitenbrunn.

Why did many of Anton Günther's memorial stones disappear after 1945? They were removed or lost following the expulsion of the German-speaking population from the Czech side of the Ore Mountains; many were only rebuilt after 1990.