Fountain is a water source which supplies fresh water to people in the old times. Most fountains in Europe still exist as decorative objects in the old towns, town squares or public parks. Some still provide drinkable water with a modernized water pipe system. A rare fountain providing drinkable water is the Fontaine des Innocents, built around 1547- 1550:
It was called Fountain of the Nymphs, named after the Bas-reliefs with Nymphs at the columns and fountain, built to welcome the King Henry II to Paris as a temporary object. The original position was attached to the walls of the Saints Innocents Cemetery, located at the corner of Saint Denis street. It has been moved to be free-standing fountain at the current location in 1858. The staircase leads to the fountain which is now reinstalled with water pipes. It is the oldest monumental and public fountain in Paris and one of the drinkable water sources that still exists until today. Another historical fountains is Medici fountain in the Luxemburg gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg):
It was built around 1630 for Marie de Medici by Italian sculptors from Florence who designed the original figures which have disappeared (or have been stolen). In 1811, Jean Chalgrin designed the niche of the grotto and added the lower part in the center with the white marble figure, "The Bath of Venus" under command of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1864, the fountain was removed to make a street under command of Baron Haussmann, the second French Empire. Alphonse de Gisors moved the fountain to 30 meters from original position.The greenish bronze figure in the middle is "Polyphemus Surprising Acis and Galatea", by Auguste Ottin.
At the back side of this fountain, go there and find the hidden fountain called the Fontaine de Léda, originally built around 1806-1809, located at rue Vaugirard and rue du Regard. It has been moved to this position in 1858. It is quite interesting that the temporary fountain attached to a building is now free-standing while the other was a free-standing fountain which now is attached to another fountain. Which one do you like the most?
Have fun to search other paris fountains!
