Was this fountain always destined for a different location? The Fontaine aux Lions, standing proudly before you, wasn’t originally intended for this spot. This magnificent fountain, adorned with majestic lions, has a fascinating backstory. The Fontaine aux Lions has graced several locations in its lifetime. It was initially erected in 1811 at the Place de la République, then known as the Place du Château d’Eau.
The fountain served not just as a visual centerpiece. It played a crucial role as a reservoir, quenching the thirst of the Marais and Temple districts. Its designer, Pierre-Simon Girard, was the ingenious engineer behind the Canal de l’Ourcq. Girard chose to crown his creation with eight striking cast iron lions, each captured in a sphinx-like pose with water cascading from their mouths. These lions, cast in the famed Le Creuset foundry, bear the brand’s mark and the date of their creation on their pedestals.
However, the fountain’s time at Place de la République was short-lived. When the square underwent a grand redesign in 1867, the Fontaine aux Lions was moved to its present location. Here, at the entrance to the Parc de la Villette, it found a new purpose. The fountain served as a watering hole for the animals brought to the bustling former cattle market, the Grande Halle de la Villette. Today, the Fontaine aux Lions, designated a Historical Monument in 1979, stands as a testament to changing urban landscapes and a silent witness to Parisian history.