Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Michel de Carcassonne fountain, classified as a Historic Monument, dates from the first half of the 18th century. It is distinguished by its semicircular niche structure, backed by the Saint-Michel church. Its architecture combines decorative elements such as split pilasters, crossettes on the harpsichords, and a sculpted head crowned with foliage on top. These ornaments, although purely aesthetic, reflect the Baroque style of the era, with details like bare paintings on the bases of pilasters and vermiculures in the niche.

In 1781, infiltration into the walls of the church bedside necessitated the dismantling and reconstruction of the fountain. During this intervention, a space was set up between the monument and the church wall to avoid further damage. The niche houses a large shell, a central element of its composition, while the concave sides of the bottom are decorated with carved motifs at the tip. These works illustrate the technical and aesthetic concerns of the artisans of the time.

The fountain, protected by a decree of 10 April 1948, is now owned by the municipality of Carcassonne. Its location at 1 Chartrand Street and its state of conservation reflect its heritage importance. Although its GPS location is considered "passable" (note 5/10), it remains a major architectural testimony of the city, linked to the religious and urban history of Carcassonne under the Old Regime.

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