Dancing Fountain in Wągrowiec

Every day at noon and after dark, Wągrowiec's market square turns into a small stage: the water in the fountain dances to music, and in the evening coloured lights join in. The dancing fountain was built during the revitalisation of the square in 2009, and the town calls it the only attraction of its kind in the region. The shows are free and run from spring to autumn, making them easy to fit into a trip through northern Wielkopolska.

Shows: midday and evening

According to the In Your Pocket guide, the shows usually start at 12:10 and 21:30; the town itself speaks more generally of midday and after nightfall. The evening show is the more striking one, with coloured spotlights on the jets. The repertoire consists of 10 songs, chosen at random, so two evenings in a row rarely look the same. In winter the fountain does not play – instead it is covered by a shimmering, colour-changing dome which, together with the Christmas decorations and illuminated townhouses, decorates the square.

The square around the fountain

Wągrowiec was founded by the Cistercians; the first mention of the town as a functioning settlement dates from 22 December 1381. The square lies in the old town, much of which sits on an island between the branches of the Wełna and Nielba rivers. Since the revitalisation, the townhouses around it have regained their former look – the town singles out the façade of the pre-war Hotel "Metropol". The square also has a sundial and a compass rose, with cafés along its sides.

Nearby: two more water curiosities

• The ice fountain – a few dozen metres from the square, on the Wełna, stands a wooden structure that ices over in winter and becomes an illuminated ice sculpture, a little different every day.
• The crossing of the Wełna and Nielba rivers – according to the town, the only hydrographic phenomenon of its kind in Poland. It was created in 1883–1884 during drainage works; at the crossing point the two currents mix only slightly. Reach it along the promenade from al. Jana Pawła II or from ul. Gnieźnieńska.
• The former Cistercian abbey and the parish church in the old town.

Tripto tips

• Arrive a few minutes early for the evening show and stand where the street lamps are not in your eyes – the colours show up best that way.
• You watch from the square itself; there are no tickets or stands.
• In winter, instead of the shows, you will see the dome over the fountain and the ice fountain on the Wełna – the two are a short walk apart.
• Show times may change, and the fountain may be switched off between seasons; if you are travelling far, check with the town hall.