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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Westhoffen Fountain is a historical monument located in the Alsatian village of the same name, in the department of Lower Rhine (Great East). Built in the seventeenth century, this pink sandstone fountain is distinguished by its terminal structure accompanied by four basins and ironwork elements. It is already on the cadastral plane of 1832, attesting to its seniority, although its precise dating remains difficult to establish. Its modest but functional architecture reflects the drinking water needs of the rural communities of the time.

Ranked among historical monuments since 29 April 1931 by ministerial decree, the fountain is located on Staedel Street, near the town hall of Westhoffen. It is now owned by the municipality. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its characteristic style and for its role in the daily life of the inhabitants. Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its protected status and precise location, although some data, such as the author or the exact context of its construction, remain unknown.

Public fountains, such as Westhoffen, played a central role in the 17th and 18th century Alsatian villages. They served not only as a point of water supply, but also as a place of sociability and exchange. Their construction of local materials, such as pink sandstone, demonstrates the resources available and the artisanal know-how of the region. In the case of Westhoffen, the presence of the fountain on a cadastral plane of the early nineteenth century suggests a continuous use over several generations, despite urban and technical developments.

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