Garden Fountains: 219 Models in Cast Stone, Bronze and Marble
A fountain is the only element in a garden that moves and makes a sound. That is where its effect comes from: it draws the eye before anyone notices the planting, and the steady sound of water covers traffic noise and neighbours. Casa Padrino currently carries 219 fountains, from a 35 centimetre water column for a terrace to a 400 centimetre installation with an eight metre basin for parks and hotel driveways. Prices run from 249.90 euros to 39,999.90 euros, and the median fountain costs 2,299.90 euros.
This page is built as a buying guide: types, materials, the right size for your space, pump and power supply, foundation, wintering and care. If you would rather go straight to the range, the full overview is under Fountains and Water Columns.
What a fountain actually changes in a garden
A garden without water is quiet and static. As soon as a fountain runs, the space gains a centre that everything else relates to: paths lead towards it, seating faces it, beds frame it. That is why historic gardens almost always placed the fountain on the main axis rather than in a corner.
Then there is the acoustic effect, which in built up areas is often the real reason for buying. Running water produces broadband noise that the human ear reads as pleasant and that masks other sounds at the same time. A fountain with a ring of water jets, where several streams fall into a basin at once, is considerably more audible than a sphere fountain, where water runs silently over a stone surface. If you want quiet, choose the first type. If you want visual movement without sound, choose the second.
The third point is wildlife. An open water surface is found by birds and insects within days, especially in dry summers. If you want to encourage that deliberately, combine the fountain with a shallow bird bath in a sheltered spot.
The six types and what each is good for
The word fountain covers very different constructions. For choosing, the type matters more than the style, because it determines footprint, water volume, sound and installation effort. The Casa Padrino range falls into six types:
Cast stone, bronze or marble: the material decides how long it lasts
By far the largest part of the range is made from a fine cast stone and concrete mix which, according to the manufacturer, is around 15 percent harder, denser and heavier than ordinary concrete. That is not a marketing detail but the reason these fountains can stay outdoors all year: the denser the structure, the less water the stone absorbs, and the less frost can break inside it. A fountain measuring 92 centimetres across and 167 centimetres high weighs around 260 kilograms in this material.
The 13 bronze fountains in the range are a different category. Bronze lasts practically indefinitely, develops a green patina over the years and is therefore preferred for figure fountains where fine detail has to survive. Prices are correspondingly higher: a bronze fountain with three child figures at 240 centimetres high costs 13,999.90 euros.
One point of clarity: every Casa Padrino fountain is newly made in the baroque or art nouveau style, not an antique. They follow historic models in form and ornament but are newly cast, and they are correspondingly robust. If you have been searching for a used stone garden fountain, what you find here is deliberately new stock in the same look, without prior damage and with a full warranty.
Getting the size right: the most common mistake
A fountain that is too small disappears on a large lawn, and one that is too large overwhelms a small space. A practical rule is that the fountain should take up roughly one sixth to one quarter of the width of the area it stands on. For a lawn twelve metres wide that means a fountain between two and three metres across. For a terrace area of four metres, between 70 and 100 centimetres.
Height often matters more than footprint. A fountain viewed while standing should be at least waist high, otherwise you look down into the basin instead of at the water. For seating areas the opposite applies: a low fountain with a wide bowl works better than a tall column that blocks the view. Heights in the range run from 35 to 410 centimetres, so both situations are covered.
The third measure is distance from the house. A fountain seen from a living room window needs more height than one you walk past, otherwise it vanishes behind the planting. If in doubt, measure the sight line and mark the intended height with a pole before you order.
Pump, power and water circuit
The fountains are delivered without a pump and without accessories. That is deliberate, because the right pump capacity depends on the type and the jet height you want, and many customers already own a pump or prefer a particular brand. A matching pump can be ordered through customer service for an additional charge, whether as first equipment, as a replacement or as a stronger version.
Technically all models work in a closed circuit: the pump sits in the lowest basin, lifts the water, and the water runs back down. No fresh water connection is needed, and you only top up what evaporates, which in high summer means a few litres a week depending on size. What you do need is an outdoor socket protected by a residual current device. If there is no cable nearby, the buried supply line is usually the most demanding part of the whole installation, so it is worth choosing the position accordingly.
For installations with a jet ring, choose the pump on the generous side rather than the tight side, otherwise the streams will not reach the centre of the basin. The opposite holds for sphere fountains: too much pressure makes water spray over the rim instead of running evenly down.
Ground and foundation: a fountain weighs more than it looks
A mid sized cast stone garden fountain weighs between 150 and 400 kilograms, and large installations with a surrounding basin considerably more. That weight needs a load bearing, level base. On undisturbed ground a compacted gravel layer of 20 to 30 centimetres with a slab on top is usually enough. On an existing terrace you need to check whether the paving takes the point load.
Being level is critical. A fountain that stands askew lets water run over one side, the basin empties faster than it evaporates, and the pump can run dry. With multi part fountains the bowls also have to be aligned so the water drips evenly. Set the plinth carefully before the rest goes on, because afterwards a correction takes heavy equipment.
Preparing for winter: what to do in autumn
The material is frost resistant, the water in it is not. Damage almost always comes from water freezing in the basin or the pipes and expanding. Four steps are enough:
- Drain the water completely, including bowls and riser pipes.
- Remove the pump, clean it and store it frost free, since many pumps do not survive freezing.
- Cover the basin or tilt it so that rain and meltwater can run off. A simple sheet with a slope will do.
- For very detailed figure fountains and for marble, add a breathable winter cover, not a sealed sheet, otherwise the stone sweats underneath.
If you want the fountain to remain visible through winter, which makes sense with large installations, run it dry: empty basin, covered openings, lighting instead of water. Suitable outdoor lights are under Garden and Terrace Lights.
Care during the season: algae, lime and patina
A garden fountain is low maintenance but not maintenance free. Three subjects come up regularly.
Algae form wherever water stands, light reaches it and nutrients arrive with leaves and pollen. The strongest lever is the position: a fountain in partial shade greens over far more slowly than one in full midday sun. Beyond that, empty the basin two or three times a season and wipe it with a soft brush. Avoid aggressive cleaners, they attack the surface.
Lime rims are a question of tap water. With hard water, white deposits build at the waterline and on the nozzles. To avoid them, top up with rainwater. Existing rims dissolve with diluted citric acid, not hydrochloric acid, and should be rinsed thoroughly afterwards.
Patina on bronze is not a defect but the intended result. The green layer protects the metal underneath. Keeping the original colour means waxing permanently, which is demanding outdoors. Cast stone fountains also darken over the years and gather moss in shaded spots. Most customers see that as a gain, because the fountain then looks established rather than new.
Small gardens, terraces and courtyards: the wall fountain
Not every garden has room for a free standing installation. For narrow plots, terraced house gardens, roof terraces and courtyards, the wall fountain is the right type: it needs a wall and around 30 centimetres of depth. Casa Padrino carries 29 wall fountains, from a plain mask with a bowl to a multi part installation with a lion head and a large catch basin.
Two points decide the installation. First, the wall must carry the weight, which is no problem with brick and concrete but very much is with aerated concrete, gabions or thin screen walls. Second, the line from the pump to the spout needs a route upwards, either in a channel behind the back panel or in a pipe led up the side and later hidden by planting.
Wall fountains combine well with flower pots and rose arches, since the wall already acts as a backdrop.
Fountains for hotels, hospitality and contract projects
A substantial share of the large installations goes to hotels, restaurants, wine estates, event venues and municipalities. Different criteria apply there: the fountain usually stands in the driveway or the arrival area, it gets photographed, and it has to work from thirty metres away. That is what the models with a surrounding basin and a jet ring are made for, with basin diameters up to eight metres and heights up to four metres.
Note that large installations arrive as separate parts and are assembled on site. Access, unloading point and lifting equipment should be settled in advance. For contract projects we also produce deviating colours on request, which is regularly asked for when several fountains belong to one scheme or have to match an existing facade.
Suitable additions for contract spaces are under garden sculptures, columns and pedestals and luxury garden furniture. One price applies to every customer, there are no tiered trade conditions.
Prices and what drives them
The price of a garden fountain follows three things: quantity of material, number of moulds and level of detail. A simple sphere fountain 60 centimetres across is 599.90 euros, a tiered fountain 100 centimetres high is 999.90 euros. Models with a jet ring start at around 2,000 euros, installations with a surrounding basin at around 7,000 euros. At the top are large bronze figures and multi part park installations up to 39,999.90 euros.
Pump, electrical supply and foundation come on top and are frequently underestimated. Budget realistically a few hundred euros for pump and electrics on a mid sized fountain, and more on a large installation. Those costs are one off. Running costs are low: a typical fountain pump uses less electricity over a season than a refrigerator.
Delivery, assembly and viewing in Essen
Because of weight and dimensions, fountains ship by forwarding agent, not by parcel service. Delivery is to the kerbside, and moving the fountain on your property is arranged by you or by a landscaping contractor. Multi part fountains arrive as separate pieces and are stacked on site, which two people can manage in the middle sizes and which needs equipment in the large ones.
If you want to see how a fountain reads in reality before deciding, the showroom is open: Castello Casa Padrino, Hammer Str. 64, 45239 Essen, Germany, Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm. Around 1,000 square metres hold furniture and garden pieces from the current range. Call ahead if you want to see a particular model and we can tell you whether it is on site: +49 212 14912917.
Related categories for garden design
A fountain rarely works alone. These areas are ordered with it most often:
Frequently asked questions about garden fountains
Is a pump included?
