Neptune Fountain — Attraction in Vienna

The Neptune Fountain at the foot of the Gloriette hill was designed to be the crowning monument of the Great Parterre. Commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa, work on the fountain began in 1776 and was completed within four years, just prior to the death of the empress. The overall design was done by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg; the marble sculptural group was executed by Wilhelm Beyer.

The retaining wall of the Neptune Fountain merges into the slope of the Gloriette hill and includes a balustrade adorned with ornate vases. From a projecting semi-oval plinth, a rocky formation emerges with the sea-god Neptune and his entourage. The plinth is segmented by panels decorated with masks and separated and embellished with garlands. Neptune stands atop the grotto at the center of the figure group in a shell-shaped chariot holding a trident. A nymph is seated to his left. The sea-goddess Thetis kneels to his right, asking the sea god to favor her son Achilles on his voyage to Troy.

Appearing at the base of the grotto are four tritons—creatures who are half-man and half-fish—who are part of the sea-god's entourage. Each holds a conch shell trumpet with which they can inspire fear. They are restraining the sea-horses who draw Neptune's chariot across the seas. This image of Neptune commanding the watery dominion was a common symbol in sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth-century art, to represent monarchs controlling the fate of their people. In the nineteenth century, a bank of evergreen trees was planted behind the white figural group to provide a...

This magnificent fountain is the stunning grand finale of the Schönbrunn Palace gardens. The scale and drama of the sculpture group are incredible – Neptune commands his chariot, surrounded by tritons and nereids, perfectly embodying the power and grandeur of the Habsburg Empire.

The best view is from the steps leading up to the Gloriette. From there, you can see how perfectly it aligns with the palace and the fountain in front of it, creating a breathtaking architectural axis. It’s not just a fountain; it’s a piece of mythological theater and a masterpiece of Baroque art.

Pro Tip: Time your visit to be here when the fountain is running (usually from spring to autumn). The play of water and sunlight makes the...

The Fountain of Neptune in the Schönbrunn complex Vienna was built in 1778. It is located on the avenue in front of Schönbrunn Palace at the foot of the hill on which is the Glorieta arch. The main figure of the fountain is the sculpture of the god Neptune. A large pool is located in front of the fountain. Water flows into it from the base of the statue of Neptune itself, through a double cascade. On both sides of the fountain, two jets of water are pumped upwards to a height of about 7 meters into the pool. Working hours from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. /in different seasons it may be different/. Its visit is free, as well as that of the gardens themselves. GPS-...