Audio GuideFontaine Saint-Michel

Fontaine Saint-Michel is a striking monument in Paris that welcomes visitors into the heart of the Latin Quarter. Constructed from eighteen fifty-eight to eighteen sixty during the French Second Empire, it was designed by architect Gabriel Davioud as part of Baron Haussmann’s major renovation of Paris. The fountain stands at Place Saint-Michel, where Boulevard Saint-Michel, Place Saint-André-des-Arts, and Rue Danton meet, marking a lively urban crossroads.

Legends l

At its center, a bronze sculpture shows Archangel Michael in the act of defeating the Devil, symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil. This powerful image, surrounded by four additional sculptures representing virtues such as Prudence, Strength, Justice, and Temperance, gives the monument both a spiritual and artistic resonance.

Zig Zagueur

Fontaine Saint-Michel uses contrasting materials to create a memorable visual effect. Red marble from Languedoc, sea-green marble, blue limestone from Soignies, and yellow limestone from Saint-Ylie combine in a rich, multicolored design that has endured over time, reflecting shifts in political tastes and historical events. Originally, a large statue of Napoleon was planned, but the design evolved into the allegory we see today.

Matías Gagliardone

This fountain remains a popular landmark. It invites visitors not only to appreciate a masterpiece of nineteenth-century public art but also to experience a significant piece of Paris’ urban and cultural history.