Neptune's Fountain, Gdansk

In 1606 Mayor Bartholomaus Schachmann of Gdansk decided the city needed a monumental fountain. The fountain would be near the site of an old well, not far from the river Motlawa and before the facade of Artus Court. The 14th century Town Hall would be seen in the background. The Artus Court is now a branch of the Gdansk History Museum.

Construction began in 1606. The statue of the god faces the royal residences, posed in a deferential bow and wielding his famous trident. The sculpture project was under the direction of Abraham van den Blocke. The statue was made by Flemish sculptor Peter Husen. Neptune is made of bronze, cast in the local guild by Gerdt Benning.

The statue stem is black volcanic tuff. The style is related to Flemish Mannerism. There were delays, such as the Polish-Swedish War, the death of Herr Blocke and the renovation of the Artus Court. The fountain was opened in 1633. In 1634 it was enclosed in a fence with golden Polish eagles. Nazis removed the eagles in World War II.

The fountain was renovated and back in operation with the eagles restored by 1957. In 1988 the god's genitals were covered with a fig leaf. The fountain was fully renovated in 2012.

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Sight Name: Neptune's Fountain
Sight Location: Gdansk, Poland (See walking tours in Gdansk)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Gdansk, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Gdansk

Creating your own self-guided walk in Gdansk is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Solidarity Union Walking Tour

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Stemmed from the country's first free labor union born out of strikes at the Lenin Shipyard (now the Gdansk... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles

Gdansk's Historical Churches Tour

Gdansk has a long history of Catholicism, hence the abundance of spectacular churches here. Let's delve into some of the most impressive temples that grace the cityscape and see what they are.

Saint John's Church, a Gothic masterpiece, stands tall in the heart of Gdansk. It dates back to the 14th century and features impressive brickwork and intricate details. Its towering spire is a... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour

The most probable source for the name, "Gdansk" seems to be "Gdania", the ancient name of the river Motlawa. Gdansk began with agriculture and fishing and trade with Pomerania in the 9th century. It was annexed by Mieszko, Duke of Poland, in 975.

The center of town was the Long Market, with its craftsmen. German merchant settlements grew by St Nicholas Church. Gdansk joined... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

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