Wallace fountains are the iconic green metal water fountains found through out Paris. You may have seen them in public squares or parks, or on the more busy boulevards as you walk around the city. One of my favourite fountains is outside my frequently visited bookstore Shakespeare & Company (see it over on the left of my photo above). As you can imagine there is an interesting history behind the origin of these fountains.
A Very Brief Background to the Wallace Fountains
The fountains provide fresh drinking water to the public and have done so since their creation. British philanthropist Richard Wallace who lived in Paris thought it a travesty that in the great walking city of Paris, there was no source of fresh free water to quench walker's thirst.
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The design of the fountains features four lovely sisters - kindness, simplicity, charity and sobriety and they were sculpted by Charles-Auguste Lebourg. They are still the main source of fresh drinking water for the homeless today.
A History of the Wallace Fountains and Sir Richard Wallace
As you can imagine there is even more to know than these brief facts about these iconic drinking fountains. It really all started back with the Franco-Prussian War which was started by Napoleon III and unfortunately went badly for France. There was massive hunger with food shortages, military losses and a city destroyed in part by the Prussian attacks.
Wallace fountain at Place Émile-Goudeau with Le Bateau Lavoir in the background
A period of discontentment, upheaval and street fighting followed the war with Paris even existing as a city state under socialist and radical rule. After the execution of the Commune collaborators and the fall of the Commune rule, the French army restored order to the city.
An Act of Kindness by Sir Richard Wallace
As a consequence of this time it became fashionable for many wealthy philanthropists to display acts of kindness. One such man was Sir Richard Wallace who inherited a vast fortune from his father and became an art collector. He was well known to the people of Paris for his generous help in commissioning new ambulances during the Prussian siege. He continued his charitable works after the siege, and in particular, the construction of water fountains which became known as the Wallace fountains.
Fresh water at the time was expensive to buy because due to the damaged aqueducts (from the Prussian bombardment) it was becoming more scarce and the poor people were most disadvantaged. Sir Richard Wallace wanted the fountains to be practicable, beautiful and to be made in a material that could be produced on mass. In total he commissioned around 50 fountains to be installed around Paris.
Who Designed the Wallace Fountains?
Wallace designed the fountains initially himself but wanted them made quickly so he enlisted help from the well known sculptor of Nantes, Charles-Auguste Leboug to help him. The fountains had to be of a suitable drinking height, but not too tall as to be an eyesore, made of an economical building material and also easy to maintain (they chose cast iron), be beautiful and functional. I think the Wallace fountains are all this and more.
Have you seen the fountains around Paris? And did you notice that they are all painted the same colour? It's called Carriage Green and there is a historical story about this colour paint and why it's all over Paris. Read our article Why Are All Paris Benches, Signs and Fences Green to find out more.
Initially the fountains had drinking cups attached by a chain but due to public health concerns these have been removed. The water flows behind the arms of the four sisters so you just have to reach in with your water bottle to fill it up.
Wallace fountain at Marché aux Fleurs on Île de la Cité
How Many Wallace Fountains Are There in Paris?
There are now about double the initial 50 fountains commissioned by Sir Wallace around Paris and they are still the principal source of fresh water for the poor and homeless of Paris. What an act of kindness that has transcended time. I've not found all the nearly 95 fountains yet, but I am always on the lookout when walking around Paris.
Now for a little bit extra about my two favourite Wallace drinking fountains in Paris.
Le Bateau Lavoir
The Bateau-Lavoir is the nickname of a building in the Montmartre district of the 18th arrondissement of Paris that is famous in art history as the residence and meeting place for a group of outstanding early 20th-century artists, actors and art dealers.
On day 3 of my 7-day Paris Tours we spend the day in Montmartre walking in the footsteps of the artists, visiting Sacre Couer, the Wall of Love, Le Passe-Muraille Sculpture, La Maison Rose (the Pink House), Clos de Montmartre (one of the oldest vineyards in Paris), dining alfresco and of course admiring the wonderful Wallace fountain. The fountain is in Place Émile-Goudeau under the leafy large trees.
Shakespeare and Company
Perfectly placed to refresh yourself after indulging in creme puffs at Odette, walking around Marché aux Fleurs on Île de la Cité (the Paris flower market), browsing the stalls of the Seine River Booksellers and shopping for books at Shakespeare and Company is the Wallace fountain just out the front of the store. This fountain seems to shine with the rain drops glistening on the paint at night time and is located well to refill your drink bottle.
