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Origin and history

The Medici water supply, also known as the Rungis water aqueduct, was built in the early seventeenth century to supply water to Paris, including the Palais du Luxembourg and the public fountains. Its route crosses several communes of Val-de-Marne, including Arcueil and Cachan, before reaching the 14th arrondissement of Paris. The House of Fontainer, located at 42 avenue de l'Observatoire, marked the terminal point of this aqueduct. It was built in 1619 and put into service in 1623, under the supervision of engineer Thomas Francine, fontainerier of the King. Its role was to divide the waters between three basins: the King (41% for Luxembourg), the City (28% for public fountains), and the Carmelite (31% for clergy).

In 1845, a double-row underground reservoir was added to the Fontainier House to strengthen its capacity, but it became obsolete as early as 1870 with the construction of the Vanne pipeline by Eugène Belgrand. The building, classified as a historic monument in 1994, is a testament to pre-industrial hydraulic engineering and the organization of water distribution under the Old Regime. Fourteen public or private fountains were fed by this aqueduct, some of which via a conduit crossing the Seine via the New Bridge, serving even the island of the City.

The House of the Fontainerier, originally inhabited by the King's fontainerier, houses basements where water was stored and redistributed. Today, it is being restored by the historic Paris association. In 2013, the 400th anniversary of the laying of its first stone was commemorated, highlighting its heritage importance. The Medici aqueduct thus illustrates the evolution of water supply techniques in Paris, from the early 17th century to the Haussmannian modernisation.

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