2022 is theyear of the fountain in Paris! A stroll around the historic Wallace fountains might have been enough, but for the occasion, we thought a tour in the footsteps of the most original of them would be far more interesting. In fact, there are almost 120 Wallace fountains in the capital, and they're almost all identical, so after two or three, it quickly gets boring. But there are a few fountains that stand out from the crowd, either colorful or very rare!
A short history of Wallace fountains
These fountains are a Parisian institution, public drinking fountains designed by Charles-Auguste Lebourg and financed by Richard Wallace in the late 19th century. They can be found outside Paris, but it's in the capital that they're most visible, in almost every district and point of interest, so much so that they're part of the landscape. The most common model, with 95 fountains, is 2.71m high, in green cast iron. The first of these was installed in August 1872, on boulevard de la Villette, so this year, 2022, celebrates their 150th anniversary.
Two years before the fountains were installed, Paris was besieged during the Franco-Prussian war, leading to the destruction of the capital's infrastructure and a terrible lack of water supply. During the city's reconstruction, Sir Richard Wallace, a British philanthropist with a strong attachment to the capital, provided Paris with public fountains to ensure constant access to drinking water. Today, they enable those in need to drink free, potable water, from March 15 to November 15, every year.
True works of art, Wallace fountains are adorned with four caryatids, each representing an allegory: Simplicity, Kindness, Sobriety and Charity. Their green color comes from a desire to introduce nature into the city, imposed to match the rest of the street furniture, such as newsstands and Morris columns.
There are three other, rarer models than the famous column, notably the wall-mounted fountain. Today, only one fountain of this type remains in the whole of Paris, at 59 rue de Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to the right of the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes. In the middle of a pediment, a naiad's head pours a trickle of water into a basin between two pilasters. This model, inexpensive to install at the time, was to have been multiplied along the walls of public buildings, but this was not done.
In 2011, the town hall of Paris' s 13th arrondissement added three very special, colorful Wallace fountains! Instead of the traditional green, here's a little yellow, red, blue and pink! The colors depend on the location within the district, adding a few anecdotes about the Wallace fountains, which blend so seamlessly into the landscape that we tend to forget about them in the end!
On the campus of Paris-Diderot University, you can find a yellow fountain, like the wheat, because the Grands Moulins building is nearby. Located on theesplanade Pierre-Vidal-Naque, it's possible to come and admire it without being a student - access is free.
Nearby, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France is also home to its Wallace fountain on rue Jean-Anouilh, this time in pink! The fountain is named after the Bibliothèque Rose, the famous children's collection created in 1856 by Hachette.
In the Asian quarter, the same color as the arch that marks its entrance, you'll come across a red Wallace fountain at 66 avenue d'Ivry. In Asia, the color red generally symbolizes good fortune and joy.
Finally, since 2014, a blue Wallace fountain has taken pride of place on Place Pierre-Riboulet. Set amidst buildings of modern design, the fountain doesn't blend into the landscape at all, and adds a little color to the environment. What's certain is that you won't be able to miss it, it's so eye-catching!
The entrance to the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles also features a Wallace fountain painted red. There's also a decorative grey fountain at the entrance to the Centre de recherche et de contrôle des eaux de Paris, 156 avenue Paul-Vaillant-Couturier.
Let's go fountain-hunting!
