Foundation of the Abbey and construction 1228 (≈ 1228)
Fountain built with the Abbey of Royaumont.
7 novembre 2003
Classification and registration MH
Classification and registration MH 7 novembre 2003 (≈ 2003)
Official protection of the network and looks.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The pier, the catchment area and the collection galleries of the spring; the Fountain aux Moines and its enclosure; the stone pipe between the Fountain aux Moines and the first look; the first look (cf. AL 271, 272, 109; under rural road No 19, not cadastralized, for the stone pipe): classification by decree of 7 November 2003 - The two eyes belonging to the water supply network (cf. AI 382 - 34 rue de la Mascrée; rural road No. 5 from Asnières to Giez, placed Ruelle, not cadastre, at the right of Parcel A 110): inscription by order of 7 November 2003
Key figures
Moines cisterciens - Manufacturers and users
Designed the network for the abbey.
Origin and history
La Fontaine aux Moines is a medieval hydraulic network located in Viarmes, in Val-d'Oise, designed to supply the abbey of Royaumont with drinking water. Built around 1228 by the Cistercian monks, it captures water in an underground basin of Viarmes hill, then runs through a gallery to a rectangular building made of blonde stone. This system, still in working order, illustrates the technical ingenuity of the religious to meet the daily needs of the monastery.
The monument consists of a two-metre-high walled enclosure, housing a small, pentu roofed building and an inner basin. The water, after settling, is redistributed to other sights along the network, two of which are listed in the Historic Monuments (rue de la Mascrée and rural road fromAsnières to Giez). La Fontaine aux Moines, classified in 2003, is only accessible to the public during Heritage Days, thus preserving its integrity.
This hydraulic system bears witness to the Cistercian heritage in Île-de-France, marked by a utilitarian and sustainable architecture. Unlike a public fountain, it was reserved for monastic use, reflecting the autonomy of medieval abbeys. Its classification includes the pier, the galleries, the fountain and its enclosure, as well as the pipe connecting the first look. The property today belongs to the municipality of Viarmes.
The construction of the Fountain aux Moines coincided with the founding of the Royaumont Abbey in 1228, highlighting its central role in the development of the site. The monks, experts in hydraulics, designed a gravitational system using local sources, without pump or complex mechanism. This heritage, preserved in its original state, offers a rare example of an intact medieval network, still operational after eight centuries.
The site is part of the Oise-Pays de France Regional Natural Park, strengthening its territorial anchor. Although the building is not visible from the outside due to the walls of the enclosure, its access road (path from the Fountain to the Monks) allows to understand its historical environment. The eyes scattered in Viarmes, like the one on Rue de la Mascrée, recall the extent of the network, now partially protected.
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