On a balmy day in Paris, many a footsore and overheated visitor has enjoyed a refreshing drink of cool water from one of the many public fountains in the city. The most eye catching of these fountains, the Wallace Fountains, are named after the English philanthropist, whose vision and generosity made fresh water accessible to even the least fortunate Parisians back in the late nineteenth century, at a time when the city was recovering from the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian war. The destruction of the aqueducts, which carried clean water into the city, created fears that many of the poorer classes would turn to alcohol instead. Wallace felt that it was urgent to remedy this situation.
The Design of the Wallace Fountains
The Wallace fountains were sculpted by Charles-Auguste Lebourg and the style of the larger models was based on that of the Fontaine des Innocents at place des Innoncents near Les Halles in the 1st arrondissement. The general design of the fountains was overseen by Richard Wallace himself and adhered to his strict guidelines. They were to be tall enough to be seen from a distance but not so tall as to spoil the harmony of the urban architecture. They had to be solid enough to withstand the elements and yet be pleasing to the eye. The fountains were made of cast iron, a popular material at the time as it was cheap to produce, but also very robust. The dark-green color was chosen so that the fountains would blend in with the general atmosphere of the parks and gardens and the tree-lined streets of the city.
The Installation of the Wallace Fountains
The choice of where to install the first fifty fountains, which Wallace gave to the City of Paris, was left up to the city planners, based on criteria of accessibility and the general popularity of the chosen thoroughfares. There are three different models of fountain: wall models with a simple push button system, a medium-sized model in column form, which provides a permanent trickle of water, and the largest and most well-known model where the stream of water is enclosed by four female figures inspired by renaissance art forms. The first fountain was installed on boulevard de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement in 1875 and was a huge success. Originally, tin cups were chained to the fountains to allow passers-by to quench their thirst, but they were removed in the 1952 at the request of the Public Hygiene Council..
Wallace Fountains in Paris Today
Today, anyone can refresh themselves with the stream of water that trickles from these cast-iron statues, but they remain an invaluable source of clean water for the homeless community of the city. The City of Paris maintains the tradition of making drinking water accessible to all and recently inaugurated a drinking fountain in the Jardin de Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement that actually delivers sparkling water. More information on the subject of the drinking fountains of Paris can be found on the website of the city of Paris. There you will also find a full list of the 119 drinking fountains in the style of the Wallace Fountains, which are dotted around the city.
Anna Doherty - After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Drama Studies at Trinity College in her native Dublin, Anna Doherty ...
