Fontaine de l'Ange, Fountain in Carpentras, France
The Fontaine de l'Ange is a stone fountain with an octagonal basin on Place Maurice Charretier in Carpentras, France. A bulb-shaped column rises from the center, decorated with carved faces that release water, and a gilded lead angel stands at the top holding a shield.
The fountain was built in 1731 as part of the town's water improvements, with the angel sculpted by Jacques Bernus. It was damaged during the revolution and later dismantled in 1904, then rebuilt and put back in its current spot in 2004.
The fountain serves as a common meeting point on the square, where people pause and greet one another while moving between the town hall and the synagogue. Its carved faces, some of children and some of old men, give it a familiar presence that locals point to when giving directions.
You can walk around the fountain easily since the square is open to pedestrians and the details are visible from all sides. Early morning or late afternoon offers soft light that makes the gilded angel easier to see from the nearby streets.
The original angel statue no longer stands on the fountain; it was removed in 1904 and is kept in the garden of the local museum. Visitors often do not realize that the figure they see here is a replacement made during the 2004 reconstruction.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
