Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Table Fountain, also known as the Choriste or Angel Fountain, is an emblematic monument of Puy-en-Velay, in the Haute-Loire department. Classified as historical monuments by decree of 13 April 1907, it originated in the 14th century, with subsequent modifications in the 15th and 19th centuries. According to a tradition reported by Mérimée, it commemorates the murder of a choir child in 1320 by a Jew, irritated by his songs celebrating the birth of Christ. The child, secretly buried, would be resurrected on Palm Sunday to denounce his murderer during a procession, causing him to ston. The fountain, originally located on Rue des Tables, was erected to perpetuate this memory.

Originally, the fountain consisted of a large central basin topped by a flared vase, which itself was styled with a Gothic pillar decorated with pinnacles and florets. At the top was a statue of the choir, symbol of the legend. The whole was destroyed in 1837, but the Gothic pillar was preserved and reused when the monument was restored in the 19th century. Today, it stands in Table Square, close to its original location, and remains a major architectural and historical testimony of the city, mixing medieval elements and more recent interventions.

Historical sources, such as the works of Jean Chervalier (1968) or Christian de Seauve (1988), underline the importance of this fountain in the local heritage. Its classification in 1907 reflects its heritage value, while its iconography and legend illustrate religious tensions and popular beliefs in the Middle Ages. The Table Fountain thus embodies both an architectural heritage and a collective memory, rooted in the history of Puy-en-Velay.

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