Neptune's Fountain
Neptune's Fountain features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Gdańsk. Give it roughly ~15 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type monument
- Suggested visit ~15 min
- Gdańsk Gdańsk guide
About Neptune's Fountain
Gdańsk's bronze emblem: a 1633 sea-god fountain before Artus Court, cast by Gerdt Benning to Abraham van den Blocke's design, ringed by gilded Polish eagles and steeped in local legend.
Neptune's Fountain (Fontanna Neptuna), in front of Artus Court on the Long Market, is a symbol of Gdańsk. The bronze figure of the sea god was cast in 1615 by Gerdt Benning, to a design by Abraham van den Blocke, with the figure modelled by the Flemish sculptor Peter Husen. Planned from 1606, the fountain was formally unveiled on 9 October 1633. The statue weighs about 650 kilograms.
A wrought-iron fence with gilded Polish eagles was added in 1634, and the Rococo basin was built in 1757–1761 by Johann Karl Stender. The figure was removed and hidden during the Second World War and reinstalled on 22 July 1957, with a further restoration in 2011–2012. By local legend, Neptune once shattered coins in his basin into the gold flakes of Goldwasser liqueur.
Did you know? Legend says Neptune, angered by coins thrown into his fountain, struck them with his trident and scattered them into the gold flakes that still float in Goldwasser, the sweet Gdańsk liqueur. The tale is invented; the liqueur is real.
How long is a visit to Neptune's Fountain?
Set aside roughly ~15 min for Neptune's Fountain. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Neptune's Fountain worth your time?
Neptune's Fountain is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Gdańsk, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Gdańsk
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Neptune's Fountain and read more:
Day 1 of the Gdańsk in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Neptune's Fountain
Preview the Gdańsk tour free in the Gingerguide app.