Friday, June 24, 2005

Fontaine aux lions (Lions fountain)


I know it is a bit odd but these water spitting lions are actualy part of a fountain that you will see if you go to the Place Félix Eboué (the first blackman to play a major role in the French Republic) in the 12th arrondissement (in which case you will have to drop at this Metro station). Built by sculptor Gabriel Davioud between 1867 and 1875 this fountain was first located on the Place de la Republique (where you can now see this statue!).

6 comments:

  1. Yeah I agree Rock LOL. I had one without the drooling but less fun!

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  2. Funny, looks a lot like Denfert Rocherot(sp?). Same sculpter?

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  3. Ok, I obviously spelled incorrectly Denfert-Rochereau, but to make up for it, found out that Gabriel Davioud is buried in the Montparnasse cemetery in the 8th division AND he also is the architect of the fountain in Saint-Michel.

    I'm not sure, but think that Gustave Jundt is the person responsible for "le Lion de Belfort" at the Place Denfert-Rochereau.

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  4. I live next to those lions, they are morning coffee view ;)

    The fountain has been built by Gabriel Davioud, on the behalf of Baron Haussmann. Its first settlement was actually Place Chateau d'eau (now Place de la République). It has been moved to its current place in 1884.

    Michael, you're right, the sculptor is not the same as the one who did the Lion at Denfert-Rochereau. It is actually Henri-Alfred Jacquemart who scuplted the 8 lions of the fountain in 1869.

    FredB

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  5. As you know more about Paris than most of french people, you maybe have the answer to a question I wondered yesterday with a Trinidadien friend : why "lion de Belfort" ? Never went to Belfort (east of France) but I don't think there's a lot of lions in this place. Not so close to Kenya...
    Somebody knows the story ?

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  6. Isido, "le Lion de Belfort" in Paris is a replica of Bartholdi's sculpture in Belfort. The lion is the symbol of French resistance led by colonel Denfert-Rochereau against the Prussians in 1870-1871. Originally, the lion was planned to face the ennemy (toward East); but the Germans protested, and it was finally made facing West... I don't remember which direction faces the Parisian copy.. :~)

    JM-

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