Ever wondered how Montmartre got its water? Let me tell you about the Ancien Réservoir. It stands as a testament to Parisian ingenuity. This former water tower whispers tales of a time when water was scarce on the Butte.
In 1835 a company of shareholders built an octagonal tower here. They aimed to create a water tower. This was near a hunting lodge once rumored to belong to Catherine de Médicis. The location is now Place Jean-Baptiste Clément.
Montmartre needed water. Industry found a solution to bring Seine water to the Butte. It would rise 130 meters above the river’s level. The water would be abundant.
By 1836 the reservoir stood tall. It was on the highest point of the Butte. Built as a pretty octagonal monument it provided water to many.
Titeux de Fresnoy designed a Neo-Renaissance facade for this first Montmartre water tower. In 1865 the reservoir was heightened. The facade included a fountain at its base. Water still trickles into a small basin from a lion’s mouth. The lion adorns a bronze urn.
Initially the Ancien Réservoir drew water from the Seine. A hydraulic pump in Saint-Ouen sent water uphill. A steam pump assisted midway near an old watering place. After raising the reservoir the Ourcq and Dhuis rivers were tapped. Two arrival tanks and a relay machine were installed.
By the late 19th century this reservoir was likely decommissioned. Postcards from around 1900 call it the “ancien réservoir”. The Sacré-Cœur reservoirs built between 1887 and 1889 may have replaced it. The Mont-Cenis reservoir reinforced the system in 1927.
Only the base of the small octagonal water tower remains. It is enclosed in a small garden with a fence. The Commanderie du Clos-Montmartre enjoys access to this area.
Bandeville sculpted the fountain’s elaborate facade. It features a large arched niche like a shell. Pilasters decorated with lambrequins flank it. Dragons spread their wings in the arch’s spandrels. Above the entablature a triangular pediment shows two women. They lean against a tablet with an inscription about the building’s origin.
The niche holds a bronze urn decorated with sea creatures. A lion’s head spouts water. Tritons form the urn’s handles. Dolphins adorn its pedestal.
The Ancien Réservoir’s story blends art technology and the city’s relentless need for water. It shows how Montmartre evolved. It adapted to serve its growing population. The fountain is still there to see. It is a reminder of Montmartre’s history.