La Fontaine Médicis, one of the most romantic places in Paris
Through Thomas martin
Published on
Fortunately, some places of Paris, the years passing, still keep their charm. This is particularly the case of the Medici fountain, essential element of Luxembourg Garden which before becoming a fountain was a cave.
A cave before being a fountain
Of course, to evoke the Jardin du Luxembourg, governed by the Senate to which it belongs, is to cite the iconic olive-green metallic chairs, the remote-controlled boats on the large basin, the tennis courts, the runners. … In short, all these elements that make it a unique place. But this garden would not be what it was without the Medici Fountain, one of its most important decorative elements.
Its construction, around 1630, was commissioned by Queen Marie de Médicis who wished to install, around the Luxembourg Palace that she was having built, numerous caves, fountains, basins and terraces obtained from water games, in order to find the architectural atmosphere of the nymphaeums of his childhood like the cave of Buontalenti (Florence).
The cave was initially installed to the east of the Luxembourg Gardens, in the perspective of the alley between the Porte des Carmes and the rue d’Enfer, therefore running along the south facade of the palace.
Over the centuries, the cave will undergo several transformations. What was then an Italian-style portico becomes a fountain. But the main modification will consist, in the 19th century, in its outright relocation, as part of the town planning work of Prefect Haussmann in Paris.
Despite strong protests, the project also addresses the destruction of part of the Senate dependencies, the Medici Fountain was dismantled by stone in 1862 and brought closer to the palace by about thirty meters.
On this occasion, the architect Alphonse de Gisors had a basin built around fifty meters long, the railing of which was adorned with basins while two rows of plane trees border the basin. In the central niche, the statue of Venus is provided by a group of three mythological characters entitled Polyphemus surprising Galatea in the arms of Acis, the work of the sculptor Auguste Ottin.
Has this article been useful to you? Note that you can follow Actu Paris in the Mon Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.