Neptune, which stands in front of Artus Court in Town Hall Square, is considered to be the undisputed ruler of Gdansk and its personification . The well at this place was located since the middle of the 16th century, but in contrast to the Court of Artus, magnificent and ceremonial, looked unattractive . The decision to put here an exquisite fountain was taken at the beginning of the century, the customer was the burgomaster Shahmann, who wanted to see on the main city square something like a fountain in Bologna . The author of the project was Abraham van der Blocke, to who turned the façade of the one standing opposite Artus Court . The work on the implementation of the idea began in 1606, and by 1615 everything seemed to be ready . But then unforeseen circumstances intervened: there were overlays with water supply, Artus Court was rebuilt, and then the Thirty Years' War intervened, too. .

The Flemish-style fountain was first launched in October 1633 and inaugurated for permanent work in March of the next. Neptune became the most natural symbol for such a large and lively seaport as Gdansk was in those years. A year later the fountain was surrounded by a beautiful grille. In 1761 IK Stender altered the fountain, placing a number of figures of sea monsters on the bowl and at the base, which gave him a bright and catchy appearance in the rococo style.

According to legend, when the Fountain finally appeared on the Długa Targa, he led the townspeople in delight . In the water they threw golden coins from bounty and scribbled decently: God himself Neptune was pleased . As a response gesture he hit a trident on the water surface and sprayed ducats into small gold particles similar in size and shape to fish scales . Since then, these gold flakes (22 carats!) Can be seen every bottle of Gdansk specialty - strong tincture Goldwasser . The alternative version of the story says that Neptune, on the contrary, was dissatisfied with the coins in his fountain, but it sounds less believable . And the sequel of the legend tells that at midnight under bell strikes the bronze god again comes to life and again breaks the coins folded into the fountain of the coin so that the stocks of expensive tinctures in the city are not translated .

Obviously, this legend was inspired by the characteristic pose in which the bronze Neptune is captured. From what perspective do not look at it, it seems that the god of the seas is about to stamp his foot and to stab someone below. The most dynamic photos of the fountain are obtained by taking a picture from below and placing a tall tower of the town hall in the frame.

The figure of the deity for the fountain was cast in 1615 in Augsburg (present-day Bavaria), the second oldest city in Germany after Trier . The sculptors there were local residents And . Rogge and P . Guusen . In 1945, together with the other large parts of the structure, she was taken out of the city . Smaller parts were walled in here, in the basin . When the war was over, the fountain They were returned to their seats and collected, after deduction of the lost details: è, trident . In 1950, restoration work started, which went more than 6 years . And in 2011-2012 the fountain was completely disassembled and completely repaired, updating the sculpture and bowl, underground water communications and illumination .

Until now, water in the Neptune fountain has been traditionally allowed after Easter: this custom has been observed since the 17th century. Turn off the fountain at the end of September, along with the rest in the city.