The old fountain

La fontaine vieille

The “Fontaine Vieille” was for many years the only fountain in the village. It was fully restored in 1812 at the behest of Mayor Joseph Jacques Amic. The renovated fountain has three linked basins each fed via a grotesque pagan mask. The overflow feeds a smaller stone trough.

The size of the fountain emphasises the importance of water supply points at a time when mains water did not exist. In earlier times the use of the fountain was strictly regulated and there were heavy fines for any misuse. There were limits to the number of people drawing water at the same time, so as not to suddenly lower the level in the basins. Large containers could only be used for fire fighting. Vegetables had to be cleaned of soil and roots so as not to dirty the water. Meat could only be washed at lamb and roe deer season, and then only in the small side trough.

In Provence, it is said, “l’aigo es d’or” (water is gold) and access to public fountains can be restricted in times of drought.