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Heritage classified

Origin and history

La Fontaine des Morts is a 16th-century public fountain located in Poligny, Jura department, Burgundy-Franche-Comté. It is located on Rue du Collège and Place Saint-Hippolyte, close to the collegiate of the same name. Its name comes from its original location in the old cemetery of the city, a place charged with symbols related to death and collective memory. The monument is distinguished by its neat architecture, incorporating an oval basin framed by fluted ionic pilasters, surmounted by a triangular pediment decorated with the date "1525" and the municipal motto "À Dieu playse Poligny". A partially erased coat of arms completes this set, testifying to its seniority and its connection to local history.

Ranked under the title of historical monuments by order of 19 January 1911, the Fountain of the Dead was the subject of several restoration campaigns. Its pipes were repaired in 1833, while the masonry was consolidated in 1960, ensuring its preservation until today. These interventions reflect the Polignois' attachment to this heritage, both utilitarian – as a water point – and commemorative, marked by its integration into a historic funeral space. The monument thus illustrates the evolution of urban practices and the need for drinking water in a small town in France during the Renaissance.

Architecturally, the fountain combines classical elements, such as ionic pilasters, with local symbols, such as motto and coat of arms. These details suggest a desire for municipal prestige, typical of the prosperous 16th century villages, where running water was a marker of modernity and power. The presence of a coat of arms, although mutilated, also evokes the alliances or seigneurial protections that Poligny enjoyed at that time. Today, the Fountain of the Dead remains a silent witness to the city's urban and religious history, while serving as a heritage landmark for residents and visitors.

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