Hercules fountain

The Hercules Fountain (Herkulova kašna) stands in the Royal Garden of Prague Castle, near the Great Ball Game Hall (Velká míčovna), and ranks among the best-known Renaissance-era fountains on the Hradčany grounds. Dated to 1670, it depicts Hercules locked in combat with the three-headed Cerberus.

Where exactly does the fountain stand?

The fountain sits roughly in the middle of the Royal Garden, along the western edge of the park's open lawn, close to the Great Ball Game Hall. Its coordinates are 50.092978, 14.401072. The Royal Garden lies on the north side of the Prague Castle complex, separated from the rest of the castle grounds by the Deer Moat (Jelení příkop), and counts among the oldest surviving Renaissance-style gardens in this part of Europe.

What does the fountain look like?

The sculptural group shows Hercules fighting the three-headed dog Cerberus, set within a bold, richly decorated niche. Water pours from the animal's jaws into a smaller, shell-shaped basin, then cascades down into a larger bowl below. This arrangement - a figural sculpture framed by an architectural niche, with water flowing between two tiered basins - was a standard formula for garden fountains during the Mannerist and early Baroque periods in Central Europe.

Who made the fountain, and when?

The fountain is dated to 1670. It is attributed to the sculptor Jan Jiří Bendl, and its composition clearly echoes the work of Adriaen de Vries - a Dutch sculptor who had earlier worked at the Prague court of Emperor Rudolf II, whose dynamic, mythologically themed figural groups set the pattern for garden sculpture in the region for decades afterward.

What is the history of the Royal Garden?

The Royal Garden was laid out in the 16th century as part of the Renaissance-era transformation of the grounds around Prague Castle, undertaken under Habsburg patronage. Alongside the Hercules Fountain, the garden also holds the Belvedere - Queen Anne's Summer Palace, one of the purest examples of Italian Renaissance architecture north of the Alps - as well as the Great Ball Game Hall, a former court for ball games. Though it dates from the later Baroque period, the Hercules Fountain fits squarely into this tradition of grand, mythologically themed sculptural accents scattered throughout the garden.

Why Hercules and Cerberus?

The motif of Hercules subduing monsters - here, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld - was among the most popular themes in garden and palace sculpture across 16th- and 17th-century Europe. Hercules stood for strength, virtue and the triumph of order over chaos, making him a favoured subject for decorating rulers' residences and their formal gardens - Prague Castle was no exception.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Hercules Fountain built? It is dated to 1670.

Who created the fountain? It is attributed to Jan Jiří Bendl, with a style closely echoing the work of Adriaen de Vries.

What does the sculpture depict? Hercules fighting the three-headed Cerberus - water flows from the animal's jaws into a shell-shaped basin, then down into a larger bowl below.

Where in the garden does the fountain stand? Roughly in the middle of the Royal Garden, along the western edge of the open lawn, near the Great Ball Game Hall.

Is entry to the Royal Garden free? The Royal Garden of Prague Castle is generally free to enter, unlike the paid tours of the castle's interiors - though it's worth checking current opening hours, as the garden can close outside the main season.