Paris Tips: Keeping Cool at the Wallace Fountains

Hot and Hazy Days at the Jardin des Tuileries Photos by Theadora Brack

BYOB to the Jardin des Tuileries

By Theadora Brack

Feeling all parched while you’re out and about in Paris? What to do? What to do? Follow my lead. I’ve got you covered!

Fortunately, there are 108 historic “fontaines Wallace“ and three functional “puits artésien” (artesian wells). Situated around the city’s busiest squares and at intersections in each arrondissement, the drinking water is free for sipping.

So grab an empty bottle!

Meet Sir Richard Wallace

Rewind! “Les fontaines Wallace” were named after the British philanthropist and art collector Sir Richard Wallace, who generously financed the installation of 50 fountains throughout Paris after the Franco-Prussian War left the city with almost no clean drinking water.

Get misty at Place des Abbesses

Brasserie des quatre femmes

Designed by Charles-Auguste Lebourg, these cast iron fountains in four versions remain iconic darlings of the Paris streetscape. Uniformly painted a deep emerald green, they’re easy to spot.

The largest model, nicknamed the “Brasserie des quatre femmes” (brewery of the four women), flaunts four fetching caryatids, symbolizing kindness, simplicity, charity, and sobriety. Curvacious stunners, the figures are draped in sinuous tunics that are pinned just-so to reveal a handsome knee. Oh, la la!

Fountain of Youth

My favorite “puit artésien” in Paris is located in Butte-aux-Cailles (Quail Hill) at Place Paul-Verlaine in the 13th arrondissement. This historic well has been gushing forth since 1866. It’s definitely worth a sip. My actor friend Nausicaa calls it her “fountain of youth.”

Tip! After topping off your bottle, check out the surrounding hilly, cobblestoned neighborhood. Once an infamous red light district (quail was slang for prostitute), Butte-aux-Cailles now offers an impressive number of cheap eats, bars, and shops. Hello, time travel.

Finally, here’s a cinematic tidbit: In the 2001 film “The fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain,” Amélie’s concierge in Abbesses was named “Madeleine Wallace” because she cried like a Wallace fountain!

Clipping from Francophile Ben Franklin, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water, my friend.” Bottoms up!

Early Sunday Morning at Place des Abbesses

Tags: Architecture, Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, Theadora Brack, Wallace Fountains

50 thoughts on “Paris Tips: Keeping Cool at the Wallace Fountains”

WaterOverFire on 13/04/2012 at at said:

Can’t resist…gotta say it — Theadora, you are a fountain of information.

: )

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Dear Water Over Fire, Ha! Good one!! Theadora
  
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Tales and Travels of the Tin Man on 13/04/2012 at at said:

Gotta say it…………almost missed the scarf on the statue at Jardin des Tuileries due to the hottie in the shorts without the shirt! Thank goodness the heart was recently repaired!!

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Tin Man, I know! I know! I fell head over heels for the entire gang. They were very sweet! Theadora (Sending more big hugs!!)
  
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J West Hardin on 13/04/2012 at at said:

excellent reportage

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Well, thank you! Research is a pleasure. Theadora (I loved your “Life’s Little Pleasures” poem. Beautiful!)
  
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Deano on 13/04/2012 at at said:

Very nice

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Thanks, Deano! And speaking of water, I really enjoyed your recent whale post. Gorgeous shots!! Theadora
  
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  - Deano on 15/04/2012 at at said:
    
    Thanks for taking a look. I will have another whale posting soon. Saw 5 Gray Whales today 🙂 Will have to keep a note on some of these Paris destinations, hope to return there this year for the first time since 1994!
    
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This Sydney Life on 14/04/2012 at at said:

…and you even have cinematic tidbits! Go you! 🙂

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Oh, yes. The post is incomplete without at least one cinematic tidbit!! And a Hemingway Quote. (wink) Theadora
  
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belocchio on 14/04/2012 at at said:

Oh that we all could drink at the fountain of youth. Perhaps to dribble it over ones face and watch the wrinkles disappear. A refrshing post Miss Theadora. Virginia

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Merci, Virginia! Well, I believe in the powers of the “puits artesian.” Perhaps Oswald the rabbit has frolicked at the magical fountain in hilly Butte-aux-Cailles?! Theadora
  
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  - belocchio on 14/04/2012 at at said:
    
    Oswald is the kind of rabbit that knows where all the secret natural springs are in France. And… he does spend a great deal of time in the Left Bank. I do believe you have discovered his secret of eternal youth. Virginia
    
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  - Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
    
    Smart Rabbit. Trix are for (the cool) kids!! T.
    
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Sisyphus47 on 14/04/2012 at at said:

They are so beautiful those fountains… miss them!

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  I agree! While “puits artésien,” with their over-sized faucets made of chrome, certainly possess that sleek French chic, my heart belongs to Wallace! Theadora
  
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gordonmichaelsutton on 14/04/2012 at at said:

The Sunday morning shot at Place des Abbesses is wonderful. So evocative of your beautiful city. And so peaceful without the lunacy of Sunday trading which we have here.

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Thank you, Gordon! Abbesses is one of my favorite spots on the planet. It feels very much like a village. On Sundays, the area is a pedestrian-only zone! Theadora
  
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Just a Girl and her Pups on 14/04/2012 at at said:

Every time a new post goes up; I get teary eyed, how I miss Paris and Europe in general. Great pictures and what a wonderfully full sense of Pariasian life.

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Ah, thank you!! Theadora (Say, I’m still thinking about the post about your strawberry cream cake! Drool!!)
  
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Shira on 14/04/2012 at at said:

Love these! We’ll be sure to jot these stops down – we don’t want to get parched! Have a great weekend Theadora! xo

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Thanks, Shira! You’ll find the fountains scattered all over the city. I’ll dig up a list for you. Enjoy the weekend!! Theadora (We both featured water this week!)
  
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narhvalur on 14/04/2012 at at said:

Love your blog, such good mix! Ann

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Thank you, Ann!! Enjoy the weekend! Theadora (Perhaps it’s time for another sweets post?!)
  
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anotherthousandwords on 14/04/2012 at at said:

So much wonderful info…and the photos, especially ‘Sunday Morning’ give such a great sense of being there!

Merci beaucoup, Theadora!

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Merci!! As always, thanks for your thoughtful words! Enjoy the weekend, Theadora (It was a fun post to create. I’m now obsessed with the Wallace Fountains. What’s next? Perhaps the rather handsome Morris Columns?!)
  
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Stefan on 14/04/2012 at at said:

I love Paris – miss it so much 🙂

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- Theadora Brack on 14/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Dear Stefan! You’re back. Thank goodness. I’ve missed seeing your work!! Theadora
  
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Sheila Hurst on 15/04/2012 at at said:

I love that last picture too with the dappled shade. Can’t wait to go back there with new eyes now that you’ve pointed out all these wonderful things.

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Paris Paul P on 16/04/2012 at at said:

There’s a Wallace Fountain in the “place” in front of my apartment; I love these! Please check out my parisbycellphone.com blog today as I’ll be posting a photo of a statue in the Louvre that bears a striking resemblance to the caryatids and I wonder which design came first!

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- Theadora Brack on 17/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Hi Paul! Interesting! I’ve always loved Germain Pilon’s “Three Graces.” Pilon was Catherine de Medici’s favorite sculptor. I checked out your “Monument Monday: The Bastille and Three Graces with Heart” post. What dreamy shots! Your photograph of the Wallace Fountain is lovely. And they’re not easy to shoot! Theadora
  
  Off now to spend more time with Germain Pilon and Charles-Auguste Lebourg. Great food for thought! Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi spent a great deal of time at the Louvre. Thanks for adding a little mystery!
  
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Pingback: 2012-04-16 Monument Monday: The Bastille & Three Graces With Heart « Paris By Cell Phone
cooleur on 17/04/2012 at at said:

typiquement française

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- Theadora Brack on 17/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Oh. Yes! Theadora
  
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Malou on 17/04/2012 at at said:

You’re making me want to fast forward to summer with these post and pictures, Theadora. It is terribly cold and wet here in Holland at the moment that I even have to dig out my winter coat again.

I remember being in Paris at the height of summer and it was so hot that I even took my shoes off and waded through the fountains of the Louvre to freshen up my tired feet. 😉

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- Theadora Brack on 18/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Malou! I love your story about jumping into the fountain. That’s so very “Zelda Fitzgerald” of you! Wink. Location? Jardin des Tuileries? Theadoras
  
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Martino on 20/04/2012 at at said:

Bronzed statues, bronzed players, bronze wells . . . makes me want to head to a bronzage studio next time I’m in Paris! The fountains are refreshing–as are your images of them . . .

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- Theadora Brack on 24/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Thanks, Martino! Your words always make me smile. Theadora
  
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anitajohorton on 22/04/2012 at at said:

Hi, Theadora! I just linked to this article on my blog. Check it out:
https://peopleplacesandbling.com/2012/04/13/paris-tips-keeping-cool-at-the-wallace-fountains/

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- anitajohorton on 22/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Oops. Try this!
  http://artteachtravel.com/2012/04/22/what-i-know-to-be-true/
  
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- Theadora Brack on 24/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Thanks, Anita! I’ll check it out! Theadora
  
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Booksphotographsandartwork on 23/04/2012 at at said:

Love the last photo especially.

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- Theadora Brack on 24/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Merci!! Place des Abbesses is quite the hub in the hood. Behind the Hector Guimard Art Nouveau entrance to the Métro Abbesses, you’ll find the “J’taime Wall.” It’s the perfect place for picnicking and book reading! Theadora (Also, there’s a book shop across the street. It’s a win-grin!)
  
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  - Booksphotographsandartwork on 24/04/2012 at at said:
    
    I would be in heaven!
    
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sustainabilitea on 24/04/2012 at at said:

Water’s free coming in but costs something coming out. 🙂 Having just made a two-day road trip, I too appreciate water greatly!!

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- Theadora Brack on 24/04/2012 at at said:
  
  Yes! Funny! Perhaps I should create a post about the free “Powder Rooms” in Paris?! Theadora The new “luxury” WCs at the Louvre and Printemps are beauties. One euro buys you private seating in a water closet lit by rose-colored lights, and handsomely stocked with shocking fluorescent toilet tissues in pinks, greens, and blues. Oh, la la! Theadora
  
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  - sustainabilitea on 24/04/2012 at at said:
    
    “Free Powder Rooms in Paris” has a definite (free) ring to it. I’d say “Go for it”, but that might not sound quite right. 🙂 The luxury WCs, though, sound like they’d be worth the investment. Oh, la, la, indeed!
    
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tomseyeview on 29/04/2012 at at said:

Be still my heart. Those “hotties” in the Jardin des Tuil. Yes, I need one of the fountains to “cool” me off. Tom

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- Theadora Brack on 30/04/2012 at at said:
  
  I know. I know!! Theadora
  
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