In short
Designed by the renowned architect Pierre Lescot and sculpted by Jean Goujon, the Fountain of the Innocents is the oldest monumental fountain in Paris. Its elegant loggia-shaped structure originally stood against a wall of the old city cemetery, before being transformed into a free-standing monument and embellished with water features on four sides.
Period: inaugurated in 1549
Architecture: monumental pavilion-shaped shrine
Main sculptor: Jean Goujon
Best time: Early in the morning, to admire the sculptural reliefs in clear light
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The ideal stop
Combine this with a shopping trip under the large windows of the nearby Canopée de Les Halles.
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Recommended parking time 10'
Ten minutes is perfect for walking around the monument and photographing the details.
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The local rite
Sit on the edge of the lower tubs to enjoy the coolness of the water vaporizers on hot summer days.
What to see at the Fountain of the Innocents
Explore the four classical facades of this monument to appreciate the harmony of its proportions and the grace of the bas-reliefs celebrating the aquatic deities of antiquity.
The Nymphs by Jean Goujon Focal point
Admire the splendid bas-reliefs positioned between the pillars, depicting sea nymphs wrapped in light, flowing drapes.
The shell domes
Notice the refined decoration of the upper niches, where the stone is carved in the shape of a symmetrical shell.
The stepped base
A complex lower stone structure, designed to allow water to flow into a series of overlapping basins.
The friezes with the marine cherubs
Horizontal decorative details, rich in small cherubs riding mythological creatures and sea monsters.
The fourth mirror facade
Reliefs of the wall added during the eighteenth century, made faithfully following the Renaissance style of the three original facades.
A visit to the Fountain of the Innocents
Follow these quick urban notes to appreciate the monument's historical importance while moving in total comfort through the crowded pedestrian heart of Paris.
Best moment
In the central hours of the day, when the sun directly illuminates the details of the stone sculptures.
Crowding
Very high above the surrounding square, being one of the busiest passageways in the city.
Suitable for children
Yes, the roar of the water and the large, safe pedestrian square allow for a relaxing break.
What not to miss
The fluidity of the water flowing over the stone steps, recreating the movement of sea waves.
Type of experience
Historic, artistic, fully immersed in the commercial modernity of the neighborhood.
What to expect
Passersby bustling about, young people relaxing on the steps, and the constant sound of waterfalls.
How to visit the Fountain of the Innocents
The structure is located in the center of Place Joachim-du-Bellay. You can walk around the fountain in a complete circle to observe each of its four facades up close.
Need to know
- The monument was built to celebrate the triumphal entry into the city of King Henry II.
- Originally it was not an isolated fountain, but a loggia leaning against the wall of the Cemetery of the Innocents.
- When the cemetery was dismantled for hygiene reasons, the monument was saved and moved to the center of the square.
- Jean Goujon's original nymphs were removed for preservation and are now in the Louvre Museum.
Practical advice
- Be careful with your bag: the surrounding pedestrian square attracts many pickpockets.
- Bring a telephoto lens with you if you want to capture the minute details of the upper friezes.
- Combine your visit with a stop at the nearby historic Church of Saint-Eustache.
- Use the underground train station below to quickly travel to any area of Paris.
How to get to the Fountain of the Innocents
The monument occupies the center of Place Joachim-du-Bellay, within the first arrondissement.
Lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14 stop at the large Châtelet interchange station.
Lines A, B and D serve the Châtelet - Les Halles underground hub.
Lines 21, 38, 47, 58, 67 and 74 stop near the square.
Walk along Rue Saint-Denis starting from the north bank of the Seine.
Pl. Joachim du Bellay, 75001
Official Transport Paris
- Paris Metro Map
- RER tickets and fares
- Taxis in Paris (numbers and alternatives)
History of the Fountain of the Innocents
In 1549, the city of Paris prepared to solemnly welcome King Henry II with a series of grandiose decorative displays. For the occasion, court architect Pierre Lescot was commissioned to design a monumental loggia at the corner of Rue Saint-Denis and Rue aux Fers. The structure was built against the walls of the Cimetière des Innocents and embellished with the extraordinary sculptures of Jean Goujon, who created a series of water nymphs inspired by models of classical Parisian antiquity. The king passed beneath its arches during the royal parade.
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Over the centuries, the Cemetery of the Innocents became a serious health problem for the city center due to the overcrowding of its mass graves. In 1786, the government ordered the site's complete closure and the transfer of all the bones to the Paris Catacombs. The perimeter walls were demolished to make way for a fruit and vegetable market, seriously endangering the survival of the Lescot monument, which risked total demolition.
Thanks to the intervention of historians and intellectuals, the writer and architect Antoine Quatremère de Quincy managed to save the work of art. The monument was dismantled stone by stone and reassembled in the center of the new market square. Since the original structure had only three decorated sides, the architect Augustin Pajou was commissioned to sculpt a fourth, mirrored facade to complete the square, while the engineer Jean-Antoine Houdon designed a large metal dome and a new system of basins to transform it into a free-standing fountain.
During the 19th century, during Baron Haussmann's renovations, the fountain was moved a few meters further to align it with the new geometric layout of the streets. The old metal dome was removed, and the structure was placed on a large stepped base to enhance the water features. Today, after a thorough restoration that removed the encrustations of time from the stone, the fountain shines as one of the rare examples of the Parisian Renaissance.
Curiosities about the Fountain of the Innocents
Unusual historical details and little secrets hidden between the stones of the Les Halles monument.
The Nymphs of the Louvre: to prevent smog and winter weather from forever erasing the details of Jean Goujon's reliefs, the original stone panels were moved to the safety of the Louvre, replaced on the square by perfect copies in artistic concrete.
The smell of the cemetery: for decades after the square was transformed into a market, merchants refused to use the fountain's water to wash their vegetables, convinced that it was still contaminated by seepage from the old mass graves below.
A fountain without water: due to frequent failures of the municipal pipes, the fountain remained completely dry for long periods in the 19th century, being used by Parisians simply as a corner stand to watch political rallies.
The secret design: looking carefully at the base of one of the columns on the northern facade, you can see a small monogram engraved by Renaissance stonemasons to certify the correct positioning of the stone blocks.
Tickets and tours nearby
Find accommodation near the Fountain of the Innocents
The area where the fountain is located is one of the best places to stay for walking around Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called "of the Innocents"?
The name derives from the ancient and adjacent Cemetery of the Holy Innocents, which today has entirely disappeared.
Where can you admire Jean Goujon's original reliefs?
The original carved panels were transferred to the Louvre Museum to protect them from the elements.
How many sides did the fountain originally have?
It was born with only three decorated sides; the fourth was added during the eighteenth-century move.
What was above the fountain before the 19th-century restoration?
The monument was surmounted by a large metal dome, which was later removed.
What does the iconography of the sculptures celebrate?
The figures celebrate Greek and Parisian aquatic deities, such as sea nymphs, tritons and naiads.
Did the 2024 restoration work change the visual appearance?
No, they cleaned the limestone and reactivated the original internal water features.
Does the fountain square host historic markets today?
No, the old market has disappeared and the square is now an entirely pedestrian area.
Is this the oldest fountain in all of Paris?
Yes, it is the oldest monumental fountain in the city that has survived intact to the present day.
