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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Éperon fountain, located in Billom in Puy-de-Dôme, was built between 1857 and 1858 as part of an urban development campaign under the Second Empire. Sponsored by the municipality, it is part of a broader project including three new fountains and the construction of the town hall. Its eclectic style, not common in the region, blends reminisces of Roman antiquity, reflecting the taste of the Clermontian architect Henri Taché for this artistic current. The sculptor Pierre Béraud, responsible for his creation, modified the original project by replacing a frog's head with a mask of a woman spitting water in the basin.

The treaty between the commune and the sculptor Béraud was signed in March 1857, and the work was completed in September 1858, the date of the receipt. The fountain, dated 1856 on some documents, illustrates the urbanistic ambitions of the period, marked by a desire to embellish public spaces. Although its decor is inspired by classical models, its local execution makes it a unique testimony of Auvergnate public architecture under Napoleon III.

Classified as a historic monument by decree of 13 February 1995, the Éperon fountain is now owned by the municipality of Billom. Its location, at the right of the rue du Mont-Mouchet, makes it a central heritage element in the urban landscape. Available sources, including Monumentum and municipal archives, highlight its role in local history, although little is known about its original use or possible subsequent restorations.

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