Before us, remnants of a grand time. These sculptures, once proudly perched on the parapet of the Pont des Belles Fontaines, now reside in the serene embrace of the Parc Ducastel. The bridge itself, constructed in 1728, was a grand feat of engineering. It diverted the royal road, the present-day Route National 7, from its original route, allowing it to gracefully cross the Orge river. The bridge was vital for the royal carriages to reach Fontainebleau, a destination often frequented by the Kings of France.
These sculptures, created by a renowned artist, Guillaume Coustou the Younger, depict scenes of mythical glory, a testament to the artistic grandeur of the era. The sculptures themselves stand as a powerful reminder of the bridge’s enduring importance – they are, after all, the very reason for its name, the Bridge of Beautiful Fountains! They were, after all, part of fountains that stood at each end of the bridge’s keystone. But in 1970, the bridge was widened to accommodate the ever-growing traffic of Route National 7. Sadly, the fountains, much like their grand namesake bridge, were sacrificed for the sake of progress.
Yet, their story endures. Today, these sculptures stand as sentinels of the past, quietly narrating the evolution of this small town, Juvisy-sur-Orge. They are a reminder that things change, but the stories remain. And stories are the most enduring legacy of all.