Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Ribeauvillé's fountain, classified as a historic monument since 1932, is distinguished by its composite architecture. Its hexagonal basin in pink sandstone, adorned with diamond in relief, probably dates back to the 1830s when the Place de la République (then Place du Corbeau) was built. The older central column (4th quarter of the 16th century) comes from an anterior fountain located in Place de la Sinne, moved in 1862 and resettled here in 1899. This canned yellow sandstone barrel, decorated with d.

The capital, carved of putti and armored ecu, evokes the coats of arms of Eguenolphe of Ribeaupierre and his wife Marie d'Erbach. The initials G.W. identify the sculptor Gilg Weinzorn, originally from Ammerschwihr. In the 17th century (1686), the fountain was painted in bright colours by Matthieu Schwery, painter of Fribourg. The summital lion, now replaced by a copy, originally held two armored shields, now kept at the home of Culture. The column and the capital, the oldest elements, bear witness to Alsatian Renaissance artistic know-how.

The history of this fountain reflects the urban transformations of Ribeauvillé: movement, restoration and reuse of architectural elements. Its inscription in 1932 highlights its heritage value, mixing medieval heritage and 19th century developments. The materials (pink and yellow, bronze) and the motifs (acanthe, putti) illustrate the influence of the artistic currents of the period, between local tradition and external inputs.

The current fountain results from the assembly of two distinct periods: the 19th century basin and the 16th century column, symbolizing the historical stratification of the city. The engraved shields and initials offer clues about its sponsors and artisans, while its successive movements reveal the evolution of public spaces in Ribeauvillé, from the Raven to the place of the Republic.

External links