“Twin Fountain” on Rue François 1er (Premier)

At first sight, this looks like a very simple fountain, yet it has very interesting details: the water comes out of twelve little lion heads. The basin is supported by four winged griffins and the central column is decorated with four feminine faces.

All the elements are made of white marble. Now, imagine this little roundabout without its fountain in the center. Clearly, it would not be as charming. And you can see that in the B&W postcard (last pic).

Originally this little fountain and its twin sister were made by architect Gabriel Davoud in 1865 during the Haussmann transformation of Paris and they originally

decorated the Place de la Madeleine (the Paris church that looks like a Greek temple).

In the early 1900's as cars were now appearing, the fountains were removed to facilitate traffic around the Church. One of them was placed on the Rue François Premier' roundabout. Click here for the Twin Fountain on Place Salvatore Allende.