Place des Carmes, Historic fountain in a pedestrian zone in Aurillac, France
The Fontaine de la Place des Carmes is a stone fountain set in a pedestrian zone in the center of Aurillac, France. It features a sculpture of Neptune holding a trident, seated on a dolphin, with water flowing into a basin below.
The fountain was created in 1566 by local sculptor Claude Lullier, as part of a set of four fountains built at the same time across Aurillac. It is the only one of the four that has kept most of its original form to this day.
The name Place des Carmes comes from a Carmelite convent that once stood nearby. Today the square works as a meeting point where locals stop, children play near the water, and everyday life passes at an easy pace.
The fountain sits in a pedestrian area with no car traffic, so it is easy to approach and walk around at your own pace. Visiting during daylight hours gives the best view of the stone carvings on the sculpture.
The face of the Neptune figure is thought to resemble Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, the Duke of Alba, a powerful figure at the time the fountain was made. Neptune's trident was removed after repeated damage over the centuries and was never permanently replaced.
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