Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Cellerin fountain, located in Montrichard Val de Cher in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is an architectural work whose origins date back to at least the 16th century. It was originally established by Jacques de Beaune-Semblançay, intendant general whose coat of arms still appear today on a stone bas-relief. The structure, of pyramidal shape, is surmounted by a sculpted motif and adorned with a wall where one finds the family shield. Its basin, covered by the pyramid, is fed by a spring flowing from the rock supporting the neighboring dungeon.

The fountain has undergone several phases of reconstruction or modification, as evidenced by its periods of construction spreading over the sixteenth, seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 2 December 1946, it belongs today to the commune of Montrichard. Its location, rue Nationale, and its system of water supply by a natural source make it a remarkable example of medieval and modern public fountains, combining practical utility and seigneurial symbolism.

The bas-relief presenting the coat of arms of Jacques de Beaune-Semblançay is a key element of its historical heritage. This artistic detail recalls the role of the general stewards in town planning in the 16th century, where fountains served both as a hydraulic structure and as a marker of power. The location of the fountain, backed by a wall and integrated with the urban landscape, also reflects the construction techniques of the time, combining functionality and aesthetics.

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