Fontaine de la Vierge, Gothic Revival fountain in Square Jean-XXIII, Paris, France
This fountain in the square behind Notre-Dame is a water feature with a triangular layout and three archangel figures positioned at each corner, water flowing into a hexagonal basin below. The geometric design and sculpted elements combine to form a structured composition that anchors the garden space.
The fountain was built in 1845 by architect Alphonse Vigoureux during a time when Paris was adding many religious structures to the city. It stands where an older street once ran and represents an era when the city reshaped its religious monuments.
The fountain displays the Madonna and Child at its center, with three archangels positioned at the corners to emphasize its religious purpose in the public square. The sculpted figures create a scene of faith that catches the eye as people pass through the gardens.
The fountain sits behind Notre-Dame Cathedral in the Jean-XXIII square and is open year-round without restriction. The location is easy to reach on foot and offers a peaceful spot close to the cathedral's rear entrance.
This fountain was built where a former street called Rue de l'Abreuvoir once ran, a path that disappeared from the city's layout. The replacement of the street with a religious monument shows how the church reshaped the area around Notre-Dame during the 1800s.
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