The Old Fountain, Rahovec

The stone fountain, also called the Haxhi Fountain (Kroi i Haxhive), is located in the south-western part of the old center of Rahovec. Based on the inscription in the Ottoman language, it was built in 1813.
From the time it was built until today, the fountain has served as a public fountain, supplying residents and passers-by with drinking water. The water in the fountain comes by free fall from the Zhdrella spring.
The fountain belongs to the type of wall-backed fountains, which were built mainly at street corners. It has a simple decorative treatment. It consists of two parts, the front and the basin. The front has a rectangular plan, and is made of carved stones in rectangular form bound with lime mortar. The upper part of the front ends in the form of a tympanum and is covered with a gabled roof formed from stone slabs. In the middle of the tympanum a circular stone is carved, depicting the sun and its rays. In the lower right corner there is a niche for placing soap and other items.
The basin has an irregular quadrilateral plan, made of monolithic limestone.
The inscription, which is located on the eastern side of the wall, is written on limestone in Kufic style and contains the date of the fountain’s construction.
From the time it was built until now, the fountain has remained in its original place with a few minor adaptations. With its form, dimensions, construction technique and artistic treatment, this fountain represents a special example of the public fountains built during the 19th century in Rahovec.