Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Doubs fountain, located in Besançon at the corner of Ronchaux and Mégevand streets, is an emblematic work of the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. It symbolizes the Doubs River through an allegorical representation of Neptune, a river god with a long beard. Commanded to the entrepreneur Joseph Nodier (grandfather of Charles Nodier), his creation was entrusted to the sculptor Jacques Perrette between 1747 and 1751, according to the plans of architect Charles François Longin and a model by François Devosge. The original statue, damaged, was replaced by a copy, while the original is preserved at the Besançon Museum of Fine Arts.

The fountain is distinguished by its architecture adorned with vermiculated bosses surrounding the niche housing Neptune. The latter, initially equipped with a row (navigation attribute), rests on a urn pouring water into the basin. The cornice, surmounted by a vase and lilies supported by angels, crowns the whole. Ranked a historic monument in 1921, it was restored around 2010, preserving its artistic heritage and its role in the bisontin heritage.

The work illustrates the importance of public fountains in the 18th century, combining practical utility and artistic symbolism. In Besançon, a city marked by its history and river geography, this fountain embodies both a technical feat and a celebration of local natural resources. Its classification reflects its heritage value, both for its aesthetics and for its anchoring in urban history.

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