THE 10 BEST Paris Fountains
Fountains in Paris
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Monuments & Statues • Gardens
Trocadero
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Monuments & Statues • Fountains
Odéon / Saint-Michel
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Points of Interest & Landmarks • Fountains
Odeon
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Fountains
Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Fountains
Champs-Élysées
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Trocadero
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Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
Bercy / Nation
Monuments & Statues • Fountains
Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois
Monuments & Statues • Fountains
Tour Eiffel / Invalides
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Monuments & Statues • Fountains
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Monuments & Statues • Fountains
Louvre / Palais-Royal
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Showing results 1-30 of 152
What travellers are saying
- worleybird98Hudson, OH929 contributionsYou cannot visit the Luxenberg Gardens without making a stop at this amazing, beautiful, serene fountain. It is just beautiful to take in, and is an amazing addition to this wonderful public garden space in Paris.Written 11 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- I visited this place🇺🇸🇫🇷🇳🇱🇬🇧🇨🇭Israel37,486 contributionsPROS
* Fantastic manicured gardens
* Outstanding location opposite the Eiffel Tower
CONS
* Currently restricted access due to Olympic construction
“I VISITED THIS PLACE”…
… in order to experience it and to see the Eiffel Tower. As stated, there is construction so access is poor if it all.

WAS IT WORTH THE COST?
Free is a good price
WOULD “I VISIT THIS PLACE” AGAIN?
Sure, but not until I have the Olympics
ADVICE
* This is surely a wonderful and scenic place to visit…… after the Olympics.Written 30 May 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BradHong Kong, China1,81,219 contributionsThis is a monumental fountain fitted into a building facade at Place Saint-Michel on the Left Bank side of the Seine. It was designed by architect Gabriel Davioud (1860) and based upon the concept of the Acqua Felice fountain (Rome).
The fountain measures 26 metres in height and features a bronze of St. Michel with raised sword, flanked by red marble Corinthian columns, bronzes of lion headed dragons with water spouting from their mouths into a basin below. It is an interesting composition and worth a few minutes to enjoy when sightseeing in the area.Written 23 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - I visited this place🇺🇸🇫🇷🇳🇱🇬🇧🇨🇭Israel37,486 contributionsROS
* Water fountains at the Place de la Concorde
* Highly decorative and interesting sculptures
CONS
* It could be dificult to get to them
"I VISITED THIS PLACE"...
... as I was wandering around the Place de la Concorde
WAS IT WORTH THE COST?
Of course, because it is free
WOULD "I VISIT THIS PLACE" AGAIN?
maybe so
ADVICE
If you are there, then go and look at themWritten 20 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BradHong Kong, China1,81,219 contributionsThis is the fountain monument situated at the southern end of the Garden of the Grand Explorers. It was designed by Gabriel Davioud and features striking sculptural work by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and colleagues. The fountain was unveiled in 1874.
What you see is a bronze sphere being held by four females representing (Europe, Asia, Africa and America). They each twist and contort themselves while holding the sphere upward. From below horses rise from the basin. Water spouts from dolphins and turtles evenly spaced within the basin.
It is a nice fountain monument well worth spending a few minutes to enjoy if planning to pass by the Garden of the Grand Explorers.Written 26 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Dan MaarekTel Aviv, Israel16,512 contributionsParis is exceptional, one of the most beautiful and the most interesting City in the world, if not the most.
The thing is it is big, and you walk a lot, often too much, without paying attention to the fact that you're getting exhausted.
This is when you need a place to stop, take a pause and recharge your batteries.
But you not always wish to sit at a cafe and be obliged to drink.
This square is perfect.
Well situated near le Chatelet, Beaubourg (Centre Pompidou) and just before carrying on to Le Marais and La Place des Vosges.Written 10 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mairwen1United Kingdom12,133 contributionsThis monumental fountain is the main feature in the square out the front of Saint Sulpice Church.
It’s a solid, hefty looking fountain. Instead of a central jet of water, it has a large four-sided domed structure which rises up out of the middle and houses statues of four different 17th century bishops.
The bishops - Boussset, Fenelon, Flechier and Massillon - all lived during the reign of sun King Louis XIV. One faces North, and the others face either east, west or south.
Below them, water flows into three levels of basins. Classical urns spout water from the highest basin, fierce, stone lions lie around the edge the middle basin and at the very bottom, the water tumbles into a large but shallow octagonal pool.
It was built from 1843-1848 and was designed by architect Louis Visconti (who also designed the tomb of Napoleon).
TIP: The fountain is best viewed/photographed with the church looming behind it.Written 19 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Thomas VOakland, CA19,144 contributionsIt really is a center of the city where major streets come together, not to mention just about all of the Metro lines! The stand-outs here are the 2 big theaters which make bookends in urban design. This was one of Haussmann's major squares. Come and see if it works for you.Written 30 July 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- I visited this place🇺🇸🇫🇷🇳🇱🇬🇧🇨🇭Israel37,486 contributionsPROS
* Prominent and fancy water fountains display
* Very interesting and stark fascinating sculptures- highly decorative and representing stuff (apparently)
* Prime location at the Place de la Concorde
CONS
* No explanations of what it is
* Not in a prominent location, so one has to look for and go to it
"I VISITED THIS PLACE"...
... as I was exploring the Place de la Concorde
WAS IT WORTH THE COST?
It is free
WOULD "I VISIT THIS PLACE" AGAIN?
If/when I am in the area
ADVICE
If and when you are at the Place de la Concorde, llok for these fountains and approach and study and admire themWritten 18 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mairwen1United Kingdom12,133 contributionsThere are over 100 (I believe it’s 103) of these charming, green Wallace drinking fountains scattered around Paris.
They are a fun thing to look out for as you explore the city. A bit like a treasure hunt. For those who like something a little quirky or different, there are even walking tours designed around finding them.
The first one caught my eye as we left our hotel on Rue Vavin and after that, I kept my eyes peeled. Mostly, they are placed in small squares or at the intersection of two busier streets.
Today, we think of them as pretty but they were introduced to solve a very practical problem. During the 1871 Siege of Paris, there was a severe water shortage which meant that many Parisians had no access to clean, safe drinking water. The poor of course suffered the most.
Almost immediately, the wealthy British philanthropist, Richard Wallace, stepped up and donated 70 of these drinking fountains to the city. Made of cast iron, they were inexpensive, robust and able to be quickly produced. The first one appeared in August 1872 on the Boulevard de la Villette.
The most well known Wallace Fountains feature four nymphs or caryatids. The four female figures are swathed in flowing, classical robes and support a pointed dome which is also heavily decorated with scales and stylised dolphins.
Water flows from the dome down to the caryatids’ feet and into a basin. In the days when public hygiene was less rigorous, a couple of tin cups also hung from chains so that people could drink freely.
If you look closely, you can see that each of the four caryatids is ever so slightly different. Their dresses drape a different way, their bodices are styled differently, their hairstyles vary and they have a different pose. It’s quite subtle so you have to stop and look closely. Each one represents a different virtue and season. I’m not sure how you tell which is which but apparently the ones with their eyes closed represent Simplicity/Spring and Sobriety/Autumn. The ones with their eyes open, are Charity/Summer and Kindness/Winter.
Mostly all the Wallace Fountains are the same but occasionally we saw ones that were similar but varied in some way. Later we found out that there are 3 other versions of the classic Wallace fountain. One has columns instead of caryatids, another is a large rectangular wall-mounted fountain, and the other is a hydrant pump.Written 1 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Thomas VOakland, CA19,144 contributionsVery historic, this fountain has been here for centuries, originally the centerpiece of a market area that bordered on a cemetery. The cemetery and the market are gone, but this fountain remains a gathering place and the center of one of the oldest districts of town.Written 9 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Thomas VOakland, CA19,144 contributionsThese fountains are quite beautiful, especially viewed from the Trocadero plaza up the hill. Don't get too close our you might get wet as the fountains are powerful.Written 13 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JnVSydneyGreater Sydney, Australia25,769 contributionsA lovely fountain in a small square, there a many similar to this square scattered all over paris, however this one has become incredibly popular as it is also home to the apartment building, that has been made famous in the TV series Emily in Paris.Written 2 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BradHong Kong, China1,81,219 contributionsThis is the circular body of water at the southeast end of the Tuileries Gardens. It is located on a direct line from the counterpoint Octagonal Basin at the northwest end, connected by the Central Alley walk through the Gardens.
There are metal chairs places around the Round Basin if you want to take a seat and relax here. Expect to find quite a few others doing the same throughout the day. There is a small centre piece shooting water upwards and into the basin. You will also find monuments placed around the basin grounds and can enjoy sightseeing in pretty much any direction after taking a good little rest and walking break here.Written 5 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Thomas VOakland, CA19,144 contributionsI have always loved this classic Place with its harmonious architecture. Built as a royal-sponsored housing development with the open area devoted to official royal functions. Now it's a place of leisure and the fountains add to the beauty and classicism. Sit on the grass and have a picnic.Written 12 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.