Fontaines de la place des Vosges

Welcome to the Place des Vosges, located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. This beautiful square is home to four identical fountains, each situated at the corners of the Louis XIII garden. These fountains were designed by architect Jean-François Mesnager and sculptor Jean-Pierre Cortot. The fountains are positioned in the center of each of the four square lawns that make up the Louis XIII garden. They are named after the cardinal points relative to the square: northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. The four fountains are made entirely of stone and are perfectly identical. Each fountain consists of a circular basin, which contains two pedestals supporting two decreasingly sized basins. Water flows from the top of the fountain into the large basin and is then spouted back into the circular basin by 16 decorative lion heads. The water supply for these fountains comes from the Ourcq River. These fountains were installed in 1825 when Louis XVIII commissioned the construction of a new equestrian statue of Louis XIII to replace the one destroyed during the French Revolution. The plans for the fountains were created by Jean-François Mesnager, while the sculptures were executed by Jean-Pierre Cortot, who also created the statue of Louis XIII. In 1988, the fountains were renovated and their water supply was restored. Visitors to the Place des Vosges will be struck by the beauty and symmetry of these fountains. They are a perfect example of the neoclassical style that was popular during the early 19th century. The fountains are an important part of the history of this square and are a must-see for anyone visiting Paris.

Location: 4th arrondissement of Paris

Architect: Jean-François-Julien Mesnager

Creator: Jean-Pierre Cortot

Source: Wikimedia