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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Colbert Fountain is an old fountain located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, at 6 rue Colbert. It dates from the first quarter of the 18th century and was designed to supply water to the mansion of Nicolas Desmarets, general financial controller of Louis XIV, located on rue Vivienne. This fountain is part of a neighbourhood in the midst of urbanization, reflecting the growing need for water infrastructure in the capital during the reign of Sun King.

Created in 1708 by architect Jean Beausire, the fountain was transferred to the City of Paris in 1713. It thus becomes an element of public heritage. Its 19th century arms shield and mascaron, a reproduction of the original, illustrate the aesthetic and symbolic evolution of the monument over the centuries. The fountain has been classified as historic monuments since March 24, 1925, recognizing its heritage and architectural value.

The Colbert fountain embodies both a pragmatic response to the water needs of the Parisian aristocracy and an example of 18th-century urban art. Its inscription as a historical monument underlines its importance in the history of Parisian infrastructures, while offering a material testimony of the transformations of the city at that time.

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