When walking around the old parts of Paris, it is not unusual to run into an unexpected architectural detail, like this trickling lion-faced fountain in a little open courtyard or at the intersection of two streets. Before these fountains were built, Parisians had to walk to the Seine, Canal Saint Martin, etc. to get their daily water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. These still serve a purpose today for the street people and for others walking by who want a drink (eau potable) or to wash their hands or fresh fruit.This fountain (fontaine Boucherat), erected by architect Jean Beausire in 1699 and named in honor of Chancellor Boucherat, was down the street from me at the intersection of rue Charlot and rue de Turenne in the Marais. Monsieur Beausire, the son of a bricklayer, became an expert mason and was named controller of the city's buildings in 1690. The Latin inscription at the top of the monument (not visible in this photo) translates to “Just as the happy peace concluded by King Louis will spread abundance in the town of Paris, this fountain will give him its water.” He was referring to the Sun King, Louis XIV.
The water was turned off but this could’ve been because it was winter—like the Wallace Fountains (1/30/07 blog), freezing can harm the mechanisms on these old fountains.
