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Origin and history

The Fountain of the Refuge, built in 1713 (or 1719 according to the sources), is a rare architectural testimony of the Refuge de Riom, a facility for the reception and rehabilitation of women accused of prostitution or debauchery. This building, which is now extinct, was run by sister tutors who supervised the residents: some were placed there by court order, others voluntarily, often at the request of their families. Women were initially isolated, followed by a symbolic shave before their "conversion". The fountain, the only vestige of this place, is integrated with a classic Louis XIV façade, decorated with doric pilasters and a triangular pediment.

"ESCA FAMI MORBISQUE SALUS SITIENTIBUS UNDA / SUNT QUAE DAT CHRISTI MUNERA VERA DOMUS", translates as "Food for those who are hungry, health for the sick, drink for those who are thirsty / These are the goods given by the true house of Christ." This text reflects the charitable and moral vocation of the institution, linked to the Church. Jean-de-Berry Street, where the fountain stands, was pierced in 1865 at the site of the former Refuge, thus erasing most of its traces.

Ranked a historical monument in 1927, the fountain illustrates the social and religious history of Riom in the 18th century. Its architectural style, sober and balanced, typical of the period, contrasts with its past linked to the repression of prostitution. The archives mention that in 1796, the Marist father Jean Bonnet listed 62 fountains in Riom, stressing the importance of these works in the daily and symbolic life of the city. Today, the Fountain of the Refuge remains an ambiguous symbol, mixing artistic heritage and memory of the marginalized.

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