Maison du Fontainier, Paris
0 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 4/14/2010 07:14:00 PM.
The house of the fountainman, otherwise called Grand Regard de l'Observatoire was built by Henri IV and Marie Medicis in order to bringa constant flow of fresh water to the gardens of the nearby Palais du Luxembourg. The aqueduct starts in the plain of Rungis, then runs all the way into the city to end underneath this cute house, built in 1619 in a dashing Louis XIII style, where it is subdivided to serve the king, the clergy and lastly the good people of Paris. They would usually come last in those times...
Since 1994 when the site's underground treasure got discovered, the association Paris Historique put up an excavation camp where volunteers would digg out the historic water distribution cellar rooms that nowadays make the joy of every water historian worldwide. IN order to schedule an appointment to visit the house and underground system, you will have to pass through the association (www.paris-historique.org). One visit per month is regularly scheduled, and no more than 25 people are allowed per visit.
The end of the Medicis aqueduct, and one of the water compartments it leads to. This one belongs to the clergy.
A plaque indicating a historic inscription found in the national archives which makes mention of the maison du Fontainier.
The three subdividing lines of water. Left are the common people, in the middle the clergy, and to the right is the king's waterline.
The main reservoir hall, used up to the 1850s to supply the city.
Labels: Architecture Instant Love, Architecture shot, paris history, photography
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