Neptune fountain, Baroque fountain in Upper Garden of Petergof, Russia.
Neptune Fountain is a Baroque fountain in the Upper Garden of Peterhof, Russia, with a central statue of the sea god Neptune placed on a stone base. A ring of additional sculptures, including horses, dolphins, and dragons, surrounds the central figure and forms a complete group.
The sculpture group was made in Nuremberg during the 17th century for a fountain that was never completed, and it remained in storage for many years. Tsar Paul I purchased it in the late 18th century and had it installed in Peterhof, where it has stood ever since.
The sculptures around Neptune draw from European sea mythology, showing tritons, horses, and winged dragons arranged around the central figure. Unlike most fountains in the complex, this one was not designed for a Russian setting, which gives it a slightly different feel compared to its surroundings.
The fountain sits in the Upper Garden, the calmer section of the Peterhof complex, and is easy to reach on foot from the main entrance. A sunny day is a good time to visit, as the light brings out the gold surfaces of the sculptures.
Most of the sculptures in the group are made of lead covered with a layer of gold, which is an unusual material for outdoor sculpture on this scale. Lead was chosen because it can be cast into fine shapes, which mattered for the detailed parts of the figures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
