Neptune Fountain, fountain on Dr. E. Beneše Square, Liberec, Czech Republic

The Neptune Fountain stands on the northern side of Dr. E. Beneš Square in Liberec. Its centrepiece is a sandstone statue of Neptune holding a trident in both hands and standing on a dolphin that serves as the water spout; the god faces the town hall. The basin is an irregular octagon of sandstone walls topped by an iron railing, and two walls carry vegetal motifs with German inscriptions.

The sandstone fountain was first set up on Liberec's square in 1826, replacing an older wooden fountain. In 1896 it was moved closer to the centre and given an iron railing. A new fountain by Franz Metzner displaced it in 1925, and it stood on Nerudovo Square until 1994, when the statue, pedestal and railing were taken away. It was declared a cultural monument in 1964 and returned to Dr. E. Beneše Square in July 2010.

The sandstone walls of the basin carry vegetal motifs, and two of them hold panels with German inscriptions, a reminder of the city's German-speaking past. The statue of Neptune faces the Liberec town hall, and the dolphin beneath his feet works as the water spout.

The fountain stands on the northern side of Dr. E. Beneš Square in central Liberec, close to the town hall. It was put back into operation on 31 July 2010 after restoration funded by the Czech Ministry of Culture. Look for the German inscriptions set in the vegetal reliefs on two of the basin walls.

The fountain's basin is an irregular octagon of sandstone, ringed by two step-like tiers; two outer walls carry vegetal motifs with panels of German inscriptions. The statue of Neptune stands on a dolphin that doubles as the water spout, and the god faces the Liberec town hall. The present figure is a copy; the original was removed from Nerudovo Square in 1994.