Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The fountain of the Trois Graces de Montpellier was designed by architect Jacques Donnat and sculptor Étienne Dantoine at the end of the 18th century. Originally installed place de la Canourgue in 1776, it was commissioned by the City Council in 1770 as part of a set of three fountains. Its pedestal, decorated with love and rocks, supports a group of three graces in marble, back to back, holding garlands of roses. The basin would come from a re-use of marbles from the foundation of the statue of Louis XIV destroyed during the Revolution.

In 1797 (year V of the revolutionary calendar), the fountain was moved to the Place de la Comédie, in front of the showroom. The work, classified as a Historical Monument in 1963, illustrates the neoclassical style of the period. Its twisted base and sculptural details reflect the influence of ancient models, while its history reflects the political upheavals of the French Revolution, including the re-use of materials from destroyed monarchic symbols.

The fountain is part of an urban context marked by the beautification of Montpellier in the 18th century. It is part of public development aimed at modernizing the city, while integrating artistic references to Greco-Roman mythology. Today, it remains a symbol of Montpellieran heritage, located in the heart of a central and lively space, bearing witness to the artistic and historical heritage of the Occitan region.

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