Ganymede’s Fountain
A neo-baroque bronze fountain outside the historic Slovak National Theatre, with Ganymede on Zeus's eagle and Danube fish spouting water.
Why visit
Ganymede’s Fountain stands in front of the historic building of the Slovak National Theatre, at the end of Hviezdoslav Square. Viktor Tilgner created it in the late 19th century as the city’s first fountain built purely for decoration.
It tells the Greek myth of Ganymede, the youth carried to Mount Olympus by Zeus in the form of an eagle to serve as cupbearer to the gods.
What to see
- Top tier: Ganymede seated on the eagle
- Middle basin: aquatic creatures around the central column
- Base: children holding carp, catfish, zander and pike, with water pouring from the fishes’ mouths
- Rim of the basin: pairs of turtles, frogs and crayfish typical of the Danube region
- Theatre façade: the putti on the building behind are also by Tilgner
Plan your visit
The fountain is on an open square and free to see at any time. It is lit after dark, when the square is at its liveliest.
A few minutes is enough. Walk the length of Hviezdoslav Square to the Main Square, about 5 minutes away, or cross to the Danube embankment.
Address
Hviezdoslavovo námestie, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovensko
Tourist Information Center
Get maps, travel tips and information about Bratislava and the surrounding region. The centre has a step-free entrance and offers a tactile city map, talking cubes with information about 12 landmarks in six languages, and magnifying glasses.
More info