On my
previous blog, I made a few posts about the “Wallace Fountains”. They were
originally, in 1872, created, donated, by a wealthy Englishman, Richard
Wallace, who also donated for hospitals, ambulances….
Originally there seems to
have been some 50 fountains (you can then read the year “1872” on them). More fountains
were created later and nowadays you can count around 95 of the bigger model,
the one we mostly recognize, but there are also a number of smaller,
simplified, ones. When they were created most houses had of course no running
drinking water and these fountains were definitely of great social value. Today, they
still supply pure drinkable water (except during the coldest months). When you
walk around Paris a warm day and if you have a little bottle or a cup, fill it
up!
The
fountains should normally be painted in green, to fit into the landscape;
you find them mostly close to some green space. They suffer of course now and
then from taggers, but there are at least four Wallace fountains in Paris,
which have been repainted in a more official way, probably somehow for fun and
possibly not forever. I spotted them.
The first one I show can be found on the ground of the Porte-de-Versailles exposition area.
A second
red one can be found in one of the China Town districts, Avenue d’Ivry. (See
previous post about what the street looks like when the Chinese New Year is
celebrated.)
Close to
the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand (see previous post), you can find a third
one, more or less pink.
The last, fourth one, yellow, is not far from there, just outside a large building which
used to be an old flour-mill and store but now is occupied by the Paris University
(Paris VII-Denis Diderot). It seems that the previous ones have escaped from
tagging, but not this one (see also top picture).
22 comments:
Hello Peter
This is fascinating and thank you for explaining their provenance and for your spectacular images.
Wishing you a great week
Helen
la rouge porte de versailles,je l'avais prise en photo....elles sont belles, mais je preferre avec le vert original
Cool post, Peter. I, too, prefer these in "classic green," but I must say that pink one is the only cheerful thing in the immediate vicinity of the awful Bibliotheque Nationale ;-) At least one other person must have agreed, the one who chose the paint color! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
We can always count on you to get to the bottom of the story... am wondering now if Paris is the only town that has these, seems to me I've seen similar fountains in other places in France ? Maybe I'm dreaming...
I too rather would look at the fountain in their dark green color. There are 30 or so in France outside of Paris. There is one in Quebec City and also one in Montreal, Canada, in the Floralie Gardens I think. I hope they won’t all be painted these bright colors.
The story and colors are so unique, so wonderful, and they certainly beat the usual boring drinking fountains.
The original dark green color is great but what a flashy pop to your senses with the brights!
Même si on connait Paris, on découvre des choses tous les jours.
Ma foi ce n'est pas pire que la garde-robe du Manneken-Pis même si je serais moins tentée de remplir ma bouteille à son jet.
La peinture ne peut pas faire de mal à la fonte et sera facile à enlever par des professionnels.
J'aurais bien vu la rouge à coté des pompiers....
la rose, tu sais où,
et la jaune je n'ai aucune idée.
Mais je préfère les vertes.
Je découvre que mon goût penche radicalement vers le classique quand il s'agit des fontaines Wallace...
They are lovely, Peter, and I'm glad to read that they are still providing good water.
They look.....strange.
They are all beautiful colors, very creative idea for the fountains!
Léia
I prefer the original green - but fun to track them through the city...
I"Ve only seen the green ones of course but the ROUGE!!! Well you now that is certainly on my list.Oh let's go find the pin and yellow while we're at it! :)
V
I'll tag along to see that pink one, and well the red too... oh, let's catch the yellow one while we are out.
I think that we were very close to the pink when we were on the bridge in Bercy, n'est-ce pas?
Bises
Genie
That first photo is priceless...
That kind of yellow is mi favorite color.
Beautiful post!
Mil gracias.
Maria
That first photo is priceless...
That kind of yellow is mi favorite color.
Beautiful post!
Mil gracias.
Maria
Je n'aime pas toutes ces couleurs tapent à l'oeil. Comme Olivier je les préfère au naturel. Elles tellement belles.
The pink one is gorgeous with the gray and black cityscape behind it!
I greatly appreciate all the info I've read here. I will spread the word about your blog to other people. Cheers.
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