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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The fountain south of the church of Andernay, in the department of Meuse (Grand Est), dates from the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 28 June 1994, including its paving and surrounding terminals. The building, a communal property, is distinguished by its integration into the public domain and its characteristic style of the period.

Directed by the sculptor Cavenget, this fountain reflects the importance of water points in 19th century rural villages. At that time, public fountains were used as much for water supply as for the structure of the communal area. Their preservation, as here, bears witness to their social and architectural role in the small communes of Lorraine.

The location of Andernay, in the former Lorraine region (now Grand Est), places this monument in a historical context marked by a rural and artisanal economy. The fountains, often decorated, also symbolized the technical progress and beautification of villages under the influence of 19th-century hygienist policies. Their subsequent protection, like that of 1994, underscores their enduring heritage value.

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