Fountain of human rights, Fountain in Aurillac, France
The Fontaine des droits de l'homme is a public fountain on Avenue Gambetta in Aurillac, a town in central France. At its center stands a sculpture of a woman, and at the base the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is inscribed.
The fountain was inaugurated in 1890 to mark the centennial of the French Revolution. It was created by the artist Capelaro and restored in 2007, when it was returned to its current location.
The figure on the fountain shows a woman in a toga, similar to Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic. In one hand she holds a lance, and in the other a bolt on which the words "Droits de l'homme" are written.
The fountain is freely accessible all year and sits in the middle of a square, making it easy to reach on foot. It sits close to shops and cafes, so it fits naturally into a walk through the town center.
The inscription of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the base of the fountain was only added in 1998, for the 50th anniversary of its adoption by the United Nations. This means a sculpture from the 19th century now carries a text from the 20th century.
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