Fontaine de Mars, Neoclassical fountain in 7th arrondissement, France.
Fontaine de Mars is a neoclassical monument located on Rue Saint-Dominique featuring columns, arches, and ornamental details typical of early 1800s design. The structure still serves as a public drinking fountain with its original water delivery system intact.
The fountain was built between 1806 and 1809 during the First French Empire when Paris was modernizing its water systems. Its construction marks a period when public fountains became essential parts of urban infrastructure.
The fountain shows how the city blended water supply with public art during the early 1800s, making practical infrastructure into something worth looking at. It served as a gathering place where local residents came together for a daily necessity.
The fountain sits in a residential area near a main street and is easy to reach on foot. It is wheelchair accessible and provides fresh drinking water on warmer days.
The fountain bears carved markings that show water levels from a major flood that affected Paris. These marks serve as a silent reminder of the powerful forces that once flooded the city.
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