Neptune's Fountain stands on the Long Market (Długi Targ) in Gdańsk, right in front of Artus Court, the old meeting hall of the city's merchants. The bronze sea god was cast around 1615, but the fountain only began to flow in 1633, after years of trouble with the water supply. For a port city that grew rich on Baltic trade, Neptune became the obvious symbol.
Neptune's Fountain at a glance
- Where: Długi Targ (Long Market), in front of Artus Court, in the Main Town (Główne Miasto).
- Created: work began in 1606; the bronze was cast around 1614–1615; the fountain first ran on 9 October 1633; the Rococo basin was added in 1757–1761.
- By: Abraham van den Blocke (the fountain); the Flemish sculptor Peter Husen (the model for Neptune); Johann Carl Stender (the Rococo basin).
- What it is today: a working fountain, a protected Historic Monument of Poland as part of the old town, and the city's favourite meeting point.
- Time needed: 10 minutes, more if you combine it with Artus Court.
A fountain that took 27 years to flow
The city council, led by Mayor Bartholomäus Schachmann, wanted a showpiece in front of Artus Court, with Neptune facing the houses where Polish kings stayed on their visits. Abraham van den Blocke began the stonework in 1606, Peter Husen prepared the model of the figure from 1612, and the statue, about 2 metres tall and weighing around 650 kg, was cast in bronze in 1614–1615. Then the problems began: the planned underground supply did not give enough pressure, and work on Artus Court and war with Sweden held things up while the statue waited in the Great Armoury. The fountain finally worked on 9 October 1633. For centuries it was fed from water tanks on the roofs of the Town Hall and Artus Court and ran only on certain days.
Between 1757 and 1761 Johann Carl Stender gave the fountain a new sandstone basin and pedestal in Rococo style, and the iron railing was renewed with the coats of arms of Gdańsk and Poland on its gates. In the 1930s the Polish eagles were removed from the railing. In 1945 the statue and the railing were taken apart and moved to Parchowo, a village near Bytów, and so survived the destruction of the old town. After repairs Neptune was back in action on 22 July 1957, with the eagles restored. The most recent full conservation took place in 2011–2012.
What to look for
- Neptune himself: the bronze god twisting on his pedestal with his trident raised. The figure was originally painted.
- The fig leaf: added by the city authorities in 1988, and stolen or lost more than once since.
- The Rococo basin: look for the sea creatures on the balustrade, a seahorse on the north side, a mermaid on the south, a triton with mermaids on the west, and a sea dog with a putto on the east.
- The railing: the gilded Polish eagles on the east and west gates and the arms of Gdańsk, two crosses under a crown, on the north and south gates.
- The setting: Neptune stands on a dark stone shaft directly in front of the Artus Court façade, so the two read as one composition.
The Goldwasser legend
One legend links the fountain to Goldwasser, the herbal liqueur with flakes of gold leaf long made in Gdańsk. People, the story goes, threw so many gold coins into the fountain for luck that Neptune lost his temper, struck the water with his trident and smashed the coins into tiny flakes, turning the water into liqueur. Innkeepers rushed to fill their barrels, but found only plain water the next day, except for one honest innkeeper on Szeroka Street, whose cellar was full of Goldwasser. It is a legend, of course, but a good excuse to taste the liqueur.
Tips for your visit
- Come early in the morning or in the evening: in summer the Long Market is packed in the middle of the day.
- For the classic photo, stand towards the Green Gate end of the Long Market and frame Neptune with the Main Town Hall tower behind him.
- The railing protects the fountain, so don't climb on it or sit on the basin.
Nearby
- Artus Court: the merchants' hall right behind Neptune, now a museum, with a Renaissance tiled stove more than 10 metres high.
- Main Town Hall: the Gothic town hall with its tall tower at the top of the Long Market, home to the Museum of Gdańsk.
- Golden Gate: the early 17th-century gate at the far end of Long Street (ulica Długa), also designed by Abraham van den Blocke.
- Green Gate: the gate at the lower end of the Long Market, opening onto the Motława river, a couple of minutes' walk away.
See Gdańsk with World City Trail
Our Gdańsk scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 24 minutes of walking. Neptune's Fountain is one of the stops, along with Artus Court, the Golden Gate and the High Gate. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch or Polish.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Gdańsk.
Play the Gdańsk scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Gdańsk →
Play the outdoor escape game in Gdańsk →
Facts checked in October 2026.