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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Aspet Fountain is an iconic building located in the centre of the village, on the Place de la République. It is distinguished by its octagonal lower basin and circular upper basin, placed on a central stone pillar. The building is surmounted by a pot-fire ornament, probably added in the 17th century, as well as a slate bell connected by four wrought iron volutes, from which the water jets spring. Its architectural style suggests a realization after the period originally mentioned.

According to historical sources, this fountain was offered to the city by Catherine de Coarraze in the late 15th or early 16th century. However, stylistic elements, such as the pot fire, suggest additions or later construction. The building was officially listed as historic monuments on June 18, 1979, thereby recognizing its heritage value.

The fountain embodies a typical example of medieval and modern urban hydraulics in Occitanie. These works played a central role in everyday life, serving as both a drinking water point, a place of sociality and a symbol of prestige for donors or local authorities. In Aspet, as in other villages in the region, fountains were often financed by local benefactors, reflecting the social and economic dynamics of the time.

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