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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Andoche Fountain, also known as the Caristie Fountain, is an iconic 18th-century building located in Saulieu, Côte-d'Or. It is distinguished by its statue of the beautiful Samaritan, resting on a dome supported by three columns, all integrated in a stone basin. Originally designed to replace an ancient medieval well, this fountain embodies the evolution of hydraulic infrastructures of the time.

Designed in 1753 by architect Jean-Baptiste Caristie, the fountain was first installed in the middle of a street in Saulieu. However, problems with wooden pipes, causing flooding, forced the authorities to move it a decade later. This move was entrusted to Jean-Antoine Caristie, cousin of the first architect, who relocated it to its present location, Place du Docteur Roclore, in front of the porch of the Basilica Saint-Andoche.

The fountain is a testimony of engineering and art of the eighteenth century in Burgundy. Its designation as a Historic Monument in 1925 (or 1993 according to sources) underscores its heritage importance. It also illustrates the central role of fountains in the daily life of cities, combining public utility and baroque aesthetics.

The archives mention its link with the Caristian dynasty, a family of local architects whose influence extended beyond Saulieu. Their work on this fountain reflects the construction techniques of the period, mixing carved stone and rudimentary hydraulic systems. Today, it remains a major historical and tourist landmark of the city.

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