The Neptune Fountain

In front of you is the beautiful Neptune Fountain. A name not so surprising as you can see Neptune at its summit, who is the Roman god of freshwater and the sea. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice numerous marine creatures as well as four female allegories who represent the four most important rivers in Germany. This is the largest and most impressive fountain in the city. But what makes this fountain so interesting is its history. Originally, it stood in front of the Berlin Palace, which was the residence of the Hohenzollern dynasty and where the Humboldt Forum now stands. It was designed by the young sculptor Reinhold Begas, who had just returned from visiting France and Italy, finding himself deeply inspired by the Baroque style. In the 1870s, he created several versions of his work before gifting his final masterpiece to Emperor Wilhelm II. During World War II, the fountain survived all bombings without a scratch thanks to masonry covering it in 1942. Before we move on to our next point of interest, let’s take a moment to talk about the two red-brick buildings you see on either side. First, there is St. Mary’s Church, built in the 13th century and renovated in the 18th century. It’s worth seeing, as there are not many medieval structures in Berlin. Inside, you’ll find a remarkable fresco from 1484, depicting a Totentanz—which is a Dance of Death, likely created in response to the Black Plague. On the other side, you can see Berlin’s Rotes Rathaus, also called the Red Town Hall. Despite what its name could suggest, this has nothing to do with socialism. The building, constructed in the 1860s, simply owes its name to the color of its bricks. At the time, it was the largest building in the capital. Today, it serves as the seat of Berlin’s government and Senate. The interior is well worth a visit, especially for the Hall of Arms and the stunning Column Hall, with its 9-meter-high columns topped by a magnificent ribbed orange vault. You can even take a look at the mayor’s office! Feel free to explore if you’re interested, otherwise, let’s continue towards the St. Nicholas Quarter.