The Neptune Fountain is one of Berlin's attractions and one of the oldest and most beautiful fountains in the city. A baroque oasis of calm in the heart of Berlin – the Neptune Fountain captivates visitors and tells a story of its own.

Neptune’s Realm in Berlin: A Fountain of History and Beauty

It offers a peaceful escape amidst the hustle and bustle of Alexanderplatz, making it a perfect spot to sit down and enjoy an ice cream.
At first glance, this baroque fountain made of bronze and granite may seem slightly improper in its surroundings. However, this contrast makes it all the more fascinating to explore in detail.

At the edge of the fountain bowl, four female figures represent former German rivers, each paired with distinctive features of the landscapes they flow through. Read on to discover the intriguing history behind this landmark.

Neptune Fountain in Berlin

Location & Sights nearby

Located in the large open space of Alexanderplatz, with St. Mary's Church on one side and the Red Town Hall on the other, the Neptune Fountain serves as a great starting point for a city tour. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get a close-up view of the TV Tower, or take the elevator to the top for a panoramic perspective.

A Brief History of the Neptune Fountain

The idea to build the fountain came from Karl Friedrich Schinkel, and it was originally intended to be placed at Schlossplatz. By the late 19th century, it stood in front of the City Palace. Built by Reinhold Begas, the fountain gained him fame and was presented as a gift from Berlin to Kaiser Wilhelm II.

The powerful sea god Neptune rises with his trident from the depths of the sea, represented by a granite fountain bowl. The four female figures sitting at the edge symbolize the rivers Rhine, Vistula, Oder, and Elbe.

In 1942, the fountain was walled in to protect it during World War II, which it survived unscathed. After being uncovered in 1946, however, metal thieves damaged the figures. By 1951, the sculptures were stored away, and the original bowl was destroyed. In 1967, the Lauchhammer Art and Bell Foundry restored the figures, and the bowl was rebuilt.

In 1969, the fountain was reinstalled on the open space between St. Mary’s Church and the Red Town Hall. True to Berliners’ tradition of giving nicknames to landmarks, the fountain became known as the “Forckenbecken” (Fork Basin) – a playful nod to then-mayor Forckenbeck and Neptune’s trident (“Forke” in German).

The four women at the edge of the fountain are humorously regarded as the only Berlin women who can “hold their tongue” – a clever pun on the German phrase “den Rand halten” (literally, “hold the edge -Gisela Heller: Neuer märkischer Bilderbogen: Reporterin zwischen Havel und Oder, Verlag der Nation, Berlin 1986. ”).

Address, opening hours...

Address: Rathausstraße 1, 10178 Berlin
Connections: S + U Alexanderplatz station (S5, S7, S75, U5, U8, U2), Bus: 100, 200, 248 (S + U Alexanderplatz station), N5, N65 (U Alexanderplatz station) Tram: M2, M4 , M5, M6 (S + U Alexanderplatz station)

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Neptune’s Realm in Berlin: A Fountain of History and Beauty