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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Fountain of Wisdom, located in Grasse in the Alpes-Maritimes, is a public monument built between the 18th and 19th centuries. It consists of a central basin topped by an obelisk decorated with high reliefs, placed on a square pedestal decorated with lion busts at four angles. These lions house water jets, giving the whole a utilitarian and aesthetic character.

In 1781 the town council of Grasse asked for a quotation to build a fountain at the top of the Cours, a project supported by the residents in 1788. Despite plans, the project was abandoned before being relaunched during the Revolution. In 1792 the municipal consuls validated its construction, entrusting the plans to architect Jacques Quine. Modified in 1798 with the fontainerier François Daumas, the works are awarded to Scipion Théas, local perfumer, who becomes owner. The construction, begun in 1798, was criticized in 1800 for its incomplete execution.

In the 19th century, the Cours Honoré Cresp became a place of grassois sociability. The fountain, initially perceived as an obstacle to the widening of the road, was moved in 1950 to the square of August 24 for its "very great historical and artistic interest". It was finally relocated to the Cours in 1973 as part of urban developments including underground parking. Its obelisk and carved decorations testify to the architectural and social changes of Grasse, between the need for drinking water and urban embellishment.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 2019, the fountain illustrates the municipal dynamics of the 18th and 19th centuries, marked by tensions between public projects, technical constraints and urban uses. Its history also reflects the transformations of the Cours, from a wooded walking space to a place suitable for motor traffic in the 20th century.

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