Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The markets and slaughterhouses of the Villette, located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, were built during the second half of the 19th century. This complex played a central role in the supply of meat in the capital, integrating modern infrastructure for the time, such as spaces dedicated to the trade and slaughter of livestock. The fountain of the Castle of Water, originally erected in 1811 place of the Castle of Water (present place of the Republic), was transferred to it in 1867 to serve as a drinking place for animals.

The fountain, designed by engineer Pierre-Simon Girard and made of cast iron by the Creusot factory, was originally a water castle feeding the fountains of the northern Marais. Juged too small during the reorganization of the Place de la République in 1867, it was moved towards the entrance of the slaughterhouses of the Villette. Its pedestal, marked by the date and place of manufacture, bears witness to its technical importance for the era. The fountain, classified as a historic monument in 1979, illustrates the evolution of urban uses between hygiene, decoration and functionality.

The site of the slaughterhouses of the Villette, now partially preserved, includes protected elements such as the Great Beef Hall and the entrance pavilions. These buildings, designed under the direction of architect Louis-Adolphe January, reflect 19th century industrial architecture. Their inscription as historic monuments in 1979 highlights their heritage value, linked to the economic and social history of Paris.

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