Maison du Fontainier, Historic water management house in 14th arrondissement, France
The Maison du Fontainier is a residential building in the 14th arrondissement featuring a ground floor, upper living quarters, and an attic topped with a double-sloped roof. The house sat directly above an underground water system that controlled the flow of water to different parts of the city.
Built between 1619 and 1623, this house marked the endpoint of a major aqueduct system that brought water to Paris under royal direction. It emerged during a period when the city was expanding its water infrastructure to serve growing populations and royal ambitions.
The fountain keepers who lived here were essential figures in Paris' daily life, managing the water that filled public spaces and noble residences alike. Their home reflects how water distribution shaped the city's social and spatial organization.
The building is largely hidden underground and difficult to locate on your own, so organized visits are the best way to experience it. Come prepared for stairs and confined spaces, and plan ahead to join a guided tour.
The underground network beneath this house divided water by precise proportions to three different recipients, revealing the priorities of royal water management in action. This carefully calculated split shows how artistic ambitions and political power shaped everyday urban life.
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