Audio GuideFontaine des Innocents
Renaissance-style fountain completed in 1550 to honor King Henry II, depicting nymphs & Greek gods.
Park
Paris, France
Welcome to Fontaine des Innocents, a remarkable landmark nestled in the first arrondissement of Paris on Place Joachim-du-Bellay. Built during the French Renaissance between fifteen hundred forty-seven and fifteen hundred fifty, the fountain was originally created to honor King Henry the Second's grand entry into the city. Designed by architect Pierre Lescot and beautifully adorned with sculptures by Jean Goujon, it was once known as the Fountain of the Nymphs.
Originally set against the wall of the Saints Innocents Cemetery, the structure served as both a practical water source and a ceremonial loggia. Officials used its elevated platform to welcome the king as he passed by. Over the centuries, its role evolved. When Paris moved its cemeteries outside the city in one thousand seven hundred eighty-seven, the surrounding area became a bustling market square, saving the fountain from demolition.
Later transformations under Napoleon and additions during the Second French Empire enhanced its design and water system. In the mid-nineteenth century, architect Gabriel Davioud re-centered the fountain during urban redevelopment, further integrating it into Paris' evolving cityscape.
Recent restoration work from two thousand twenty-three to two thousand twenty-four updated its hydraulic system, improved lighting, and replaced weathered sculptures with faithful replicas. Located near the Les Halles and Châtelet metro stations, Fontaine des Innocents now stands as a tangible connection to Paris' layered history and creative heritage.
Listen to this and other guides in app
