Fontaine, place du Maréchal-Lyautey, 19th century fountain in 6th district, Lyon, France
The Fontaine, place du Maréchal-Lyautey is a listed monument and fountain in Lyon's 6th district from the 1800s. It features a central marble statue of the city surrounded by five water basins with lion-shaped spouts.
Built in 1865, it marks Napoleon III's decision to remove tolls from the Rhone bridges crossing Lyon. This action was a turning point for the city's trade routes.
The five cherub figures at the corners represent Commerce, Navigation, Strength, History, and Geography, showing what mattered to Lyon in the 1800s. These sculptures capture the values that defined the city at that time.
The fountain is accessible year-round at Place du Maréchal-Lyautey and sits near shops and cafes in central Lyon. The plaza offers space to pause and take in the surroundings.
Sculptor Guillaume Bonnet modeled the main 3.85-meter Carrara marble statue after his own wife. This personal touch behind the artwork often goes unnoticed by visitors.
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