Fountain columns, Tourist attraction in the old town of Belfort, France

The Colonnes de la fontaine is a historic fountain on the Place de la Petite Fontaine in the old town of Belfort, close to the Grand'Rue. Its basin has eight sides and measures roughly 11 feet (3.5 meters) across, with a central column decorated with carved stone heads, mermaids, and the city's coat of arms.

The fountain was built in 1617 on a spot where a well had already stood since 1499, and its first structure was made of wood. The current stone basin dates to 1763 and carries both years engraved on its surface.

In the past, people in Belfort would set a meeting point by saying they would go to the mermaid with the spread legs, a reference to one of the carved figures on the central column. This expression shows how deeply the fountain was woven into the daily routines of the city.

The fountain sits right in the pedestrian area of the old town and is easy to reach on foot from the Grand'Rue. It is freely accessible at any time of day, as it stands on a public square.

The column with its carved figures is not the original: it was made between 1948 and 1951 by sculptor Eugène Traut as a faithful copy, after the fountain had been taken apart in 1932 and stored in the local museum. The original had been listed as a historic monument in 1908, before it deteriorated beyond repair.