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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The fountain of Samoëns is a public building built in the 18th century, located in Place du Gros-Tilleul in the commune of Haute-Savoie. Its origin dates back to a deliberation of the council of the community of Samoëns, taken on 26 July 1761, aimed at offering the inhabitants (called septimontans) a purer water. This project mobilized the bourgeois of the city, who contributed financially and by supplying materials, including wood taken from the surrounding forests. The inhabitants also participated through chores for the transport of materials and the digging of canals.

The work was commissioned by the Morrand brothers from the nearby parish of Sixt. The work was based on a collective logic, reflecting the importance of access to drinking water for the community. The fountain, still at its original location, was officially recognized as a historic monument by an inscription order dated January 16, 2015. Today it remains the property of the municipality of Samoëns.

This monument illustrates the practices of community resource management in the 18th century in Savoy, where decisions were taken collectively and where residents were directly involved in public interest projects. The fountain also symbolizes the evolution of water infrastructure in mountainous areas, where water supply was a major issue for the health and hygiene of local populations.

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