Fontaines Wallace
Fontaines Wallace
4.5
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Neighbourhood: Ile de la Cité
Two islands sit in the middle of the Seine at the very heart of Paris. The more majestic one, Ile de la Cité, sparkles with history. This is the birthplace of Paris, the home of the Gothic Sainte-Chapelle, and the site of the prison where Marie Antoinette was held before her execution. Tourists flock to see the iconic Notre Dame and the beautiful bridges that straddle the Seine. Ile Saint-Louis, the more provincial island, welcomes you with cozy traditional eateries, small boutiques, and what some people say is the best ice cream in the city. This is essential Paris from its very beginnings to its modern appeal.
How to get there
- Cité • 2 min walk
- St-Michel – Notre-Dame • 3 min walk
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4.5
52 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
24
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Vanessa P
Calgary, Canada1,462 contributions
Sept 2019
Several of this kind of water fountains are spread all around Paris. It is part of the local culture to drink water from the fountains. They city administration say that the water is potable and that it is safe to drink it. I couldn't move myself to drink the fountain water though.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,499 contributions
May 2022
Maybe my favorite symbol of Paris. These fountains were donated to the city by the former ambassador from Angle-Terre who lived through the Prussian attack on the city during the 19th Century. He saw how the city lacked fresh water, so once it was all over, he gave these beautiful working fountains. Look for them. They are often located in the center of very pretty squares. Let's write a book about them!
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taxidevil
Glasgow, UK2,935 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
There are lots of Wallace fountains in Paris and every time I pass one it reminds me of the film Amelie ( the concierge in her building is called Wallace )
They are called Wallace Fountains after the Englishman who paid for them
They are called Wallace Fountains after the Englishman who paid for them
Written 31 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mariana Aguiar
Sao Paulo, SP1,083 contributions
July 2016 • Friends
They are more useful than touristic. The water that comes out of them is drinkable. Matter of fact, Paris has a lot of fontains with drinkable water. But of course, they're pretty too.
Written 9 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK829,678 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Dotted throughout Paris are 67 Wallace Fountains which are beautiful to behold .
Wallace Fountains are public drinking fountains that were named after ,financed by and more or less designed by Sir Richard Wallace although the sculptures that adorn the fountain were designed by Sir Richard Wallace's close friend Charles Auguste Lebourg .
You will find these fountains in the big tourist area's ,they are lovely to look at ,the design is so pleasing on the eye ,the four statues around the base represent kindness,simplicity,charity and sobriety ,although not an essential tourist site if you're walking around Paris and pass one they are most definitely worth a few minutes of you're time.
Wallace Fountains are public drinking fountains that were named after ,financed by and more or less designed by Sir Richard Wallace although the sculptures that adorn the fountain were designed by Sir Richard Wallace's close friend Charles Auguste Lebourg .
You will find these fountains in the big tourist area's ,they are lovely to look at ,the design is so pleasing on the eye ,the four statues around the base represent kindness,simplicity,charity and sobriety ,although not an essential tourist site if you're walking around Paris and pass one they are most definitely worth a few minutes of you're time.
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CPaM68
Texas686 contributions
July 2018 • Family
We were taking a walking tour when our guide pointed out and explained the significance of the Wallace Fountains. I had seen several throughout the city but really hadn’t paid attention to them. The fountains were first installed in Paris over 120 years ago and today over a hundred of them are still working. Like a lot of things in the City of Light, even the intricate cast-iron drinking fountains are beautiful and have a story to tell. The devastation following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 damaged many of the city’s aqueducts, leaving the poor without adequate clean water. Sir Richard Wallace, in an attempt to help, had fountains built throughout the city that provided everyone with free drinking water. The drinking fountains were created from Wallace’s own sketches, and — being that it was 19th-century France — were very elaborate and artistic. If you’re walking around in Paris and need a drink, maybe you can spot one of these green painted fountains to fill your water bottle.
Written 1 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia21,219 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
The city is scattered with these many ornate green fountains, most work even today. offering fresh water.
These fountains have been in use for more than 150 years.
These fountains have been in use for more than 150 years.
Written 28 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia21,219 contributions
Oct 2022
Created in the 19th century to make water more available to Parisians, these days they are more of a feature rather than a water source, whilst cruising the streets of Paris they seem to pop up in the strangest of places.
Written 7 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice R
Hobart, Australia8,927 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
There are about 50 of these fountains scattered around Paris and I found one. Situated near the funicular that serves Sacro Coeur, it's in need of some TLC.
Written 20 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia21,219 contributions
Dec 2019
These fountains are ubiquitous, just adding to the architectural beauty of Paris, the ladies holding up the fountain, (the four caryatids), represent kindness, simplicity, charity and sobriety. It was quite fun seeking them out during our travels.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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