00:11The Wallace fountains are now among the most recognizable symbols of Paris.
00:16These elegant green cast-iron fountains, installed on the sidewalks and squares of the capital,
00:21They were born in a dramatic context, that of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the Paris Commune.
00:26During this period, the city suffered from significant water shortages.
00:30aggravated by the destruction of infrastructure and the poverty that particularly affects poor populations.
00:35That's when Richard Wallace, a wealthy British collector and patron of the arts living in France, comes into the picture.
00:41Moved by the hardships faced by Parisians, he decided to finance the installation of public fountains offering free water.
00:47drinkable.
00:48Inspired by London's drinking fountains, Wallace wanted to improve hygiene and make water accessible to everyone, especially to
00:54more modest.
00:54The first Wallace fountain was inaugurated in 1872 on Boulevard de la Villette, and it was an immediate success.
01:00Initially, 50 units were installed, and more followed a few years later.
01:05The design of the fountains was entrusted to the French sculptor Charles-Auguste Lebourg.
01:09They are made of cast iron in order to be strong, relatively inexpensive and easy to reproduce.
01:14The most famous model is the one with four caryatids, four female figures supporting a dome decorated with dolphins.
01:20These statues represent different virtues such as kindness, simplicity, sobriety and charity.
01:26Originally, a small metal cup attached by a chain allowed passersby to drink, but it was removed
01:32in 1952 for hygiene reasons.
01:34Over time, Wallace fountains have become much more than just water features.
01:39They embody a certain idea of Parisian heritage and urban solidarity.
01:42Today there are more than a hundred of them in Paris, as well as in other French and foreign cities.
01:48Some have even been repainted in bright colors in several districts to modernize their image while preserving their silhouette
01:54emblematic.
01:55Parisians remain very attached to these historic fountains.
01:58In 2019, a rumor announcing their disappearance sparked a wave of outrage on social media and several petitions.
02:04heritage protection.
02:06This attachment shows how much the Wallace fountains have become an emotional and cultural element of the city.
02:11In 2022, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first installation, an authentic Wallace fountain was even exhibited at the
02:18Carnavalet Museum, dedicated to the history of Paris.
02:20THANKS.
02:21THANKS.
02:26THANKS.
02:27THANKS.
02:27THANKS.
02:28THANKS.
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