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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The fountain of Beaune-Semblançay, built in the 16th century in Tours, is an exceptional testimony of Renaissance architecture and hydraulic engineering of the period. Ranked as a historical monument since 12 July 1886, it is distinguished by its marble pyramid of Genoa, decorated with the monograms of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany, as well as the coats of arms of the Beaune family. Originally installed at the Carroi de Beaune in 1511, it was moved several times before finding its current place in the center of the Beaune-Semblançay garden in 1958.

The water supply of Tours in the 16th century was based on an innovative system designed by the master fontainer Pierre de Valence. In 1507 he proposed to collect the Limançon sources at Saint-Avertin to supply six public fountains, including Beaune-Semblançay. The waters, transported by gravity from the south coast of Tours, crossed the Cher to serve the city. This project met an increasing need, with the former Gallo-Roman aqueduct and existing catchments becoming insufficient for an expanding population.

The creation of the fountain is attributed to the sculptors Bastien François and Martin François, grandsons by alliance of Michel Colombe, a renowned artist installed in Tours in 1496. Michel Colombe, head of a successful workshop, trained many sculptors, including his nephew Guillaume Regnault, who perpetuated his legacy. The fountain, partly financed by Jacques de Beaune, was originally characterized by a flowered terrace surmounted by a crucifix, which is now extinct. Its materials, Volvic stone for the basin and marble of Genoa for the pyramid, reflect the fascination of its sponsors.

Over the centuries, the fountain has undergone several moves linked to the urban transformations of Tours. In 1777, it was dismantled to allow the piercing of Rue Royale (present-day rue Nationale), then relocated in 1820 to the Place du Grand-Marché, where it served as a water supply for traders. In 1958, she returned to her original neighbourhood, in the heart of the Beaune-Semblançay garden, which was designed to highlight the remains of the family's mansion. This garden, designed in the 1950s by architects Pierre Patout and Pierre Labadie, also includes a restored chapel and a Renaissance façade of the hotel.

The fountain was vandalized in July 2012, losing more than one metre of its terminal part. Despite 500 years of almost continuous operation, its restoration, scheduled for 2026, has not yet started in February 2022. In May 2025, the Heritage Foundation launched a fund-raising campaign (target: €65,500) to finance works including the removal of inappropriate repairs, the restitution of missing items and thorough cleaning. The City of Tours, a pilot of the project, however, is considering not putting the fountain back into water, focusing on its heritage preservation.

The Beaune-Semblançay Garden, renovated in 2005 by landscape architect Philippe Herlin, now offers a harmonious setting for the fountain. It combines plant beds, limestone pavements and teak benches, while highlighting the surrounding historical remains. This site, accessible from National and Jules Favre streets, is a place of memory and walking in the heart of the Old Towers, recalling the importance of the Beaune family in local history.

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