Description of the attraction
On the Dlugi Targ Square in front of the Artus Palace, you can see the most popular fountain in the city - with the figure of Neptune. Gdansk is often poetically called the city of Neptune. As you know, it is considered the Polish gateway to the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the fountain of Neptune is perceived as a symbol and confirmation of the legendary connection of Gdansk with the highest sea powers.
Any guide will tell you an amazing story connected with this fountain. This structure, built in 1615 by the stonecutter Abraham van den Block, has always enjoyed great love among the locals and guests of Gdansk. People did not regret throwing gold coins at the feet of the bronze god of the seas. Once Neptune did not like this extremely, he got angry and hit the bowl of water with his trident. The money melted and transformed into thin golden threads, which have since been present in the Goldwasser herbal infusion produced in Gdansk. Perhaps, in order to protect the water of the fountain from coins, it was surrounded in 1634 with a high forged lattice decorated with the symbols of Poland and Gdansk. Since then, a sign has also appeared, according to which the one who gets to the bowl of the fountain will be unusually lucky in life.
The bowl and the stone images of animals on it, which we see now, were created in the years 1757-1761. During the Second World War, this structure was saved from destruction: it was simply dismantled and hidden in a safe place. In 1954, the Neptune Fountain took its place again in one of the most beautiful squares in the city.
