Fontaine de Janus, Roman fountain at Place Broglie, Strasbourg, France
The Fontaine de Janus is a modern monument located at Place Broglie beside the Opera House, featuring a rectangular basin with a bronze two-faced head at its center. The structure blends traditional fountain architecture with contemporary sculptural design.
The monument was built in 1988 to mark Strasbourg's 2,000 years of history, beginning with the Roman settlement of Argentoratum. The site previously held a building from 1785 until its demolition in the 1970s to make way for urban renewal.
The bronze head of Janus depicts the two-facing god with one side gazing east and the other west, representing how Strasbourg has looked in different directions throughout its existence. This dual perspective reflects the city's position between different regions and cultures.
The fountain is located on Place Broglie near the Opera House and is easily accessible on foot from the city center. Daytime visits offer the best viewing conditions to see the sculptural details clearly.
The inscriptions on the fountain present two names for the city side by side: Argentoratum represents the ancient Roman past, while Strasbourg denotes the modern French present. This juxtaposition illustrates how the monument honors the long continuity of settlement at this location.
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