Rome may be known for its Trevi fountain, and Geneva has its Jet d’Eau that spouts impressively into the air, but Paris has its own wealth of stunning fountains—each one telling a story of art, history and urban elegance.
Few cities, in fact, can boast as many beautiful and storied fountains as the city that we at 56Paris Real Estate cherish. There are several hundred in Paris proper, and an additional fifty at the Versailles Palace.
From romantic Renaissance designs to modern marvels, these iconic spots are part of what makes daily life in the City of Light so captivating. After all, Paris is built on water and its flow. And not just the Seine. For centuries, fountains were more than ornamental—they were essential. Napoleon Bonaparte understood this and in the 19th century launched a city-wide program to clean and restore existing fountains and commissioned 15 new ones. He decreed that water should flow freely, day and night, for all in Paris. Once you start noticing them, you realize the fountains of Paris remain major sights, even today.
Here’s our guide to 10 of the most fascinating fountains in Paris—perfect for your next stroll, landmark sighting or property search. We know they’re part of falling in love with the city’s unique charm—including its beautiful public spaces.
Le Char d'Apollon, The Gardens of Versailles - Le Grand Bassin Rond, Tuileries Gardens - Square Emile-Chautemps, Paris 3rd arrondissement
Fountains of the Place de la Concorde – Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris
Two beautiful fountains steal the show at the Place de la Concorde. Framing the obelisk and completed in 1840 under France’s last king, Louis-Philippe, the Fountain of the Seas (Fontaine des Mers) and Fountain of the Rivers (Fontaine des Fleuves) pay tribute to France’s maritime trade and its major rivers, the Rhône and the Rhine. Inspired by the fountains in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, they’re sure to turn your head with their dazzling gold and cast-iron sculptures of Titons and sea nymphs.
Fontaine Médicis – Luxembourg Garden, 75006 Paris
This romantic, grotto-style fountain is nestled among trees in the Luxembourg Garden and is worth seeking out for its optical illusion. Created in the early 17th century for Marie de’ Medici, the widow of Henry IV, the flat basin is lined with walls that appear to slope downward toward the fountain; in fact, the water from the grotto flows slowly away from it. It’s a peaceful retreat and a favorite spot to sit in the comfortable chairs along the basin and listen to birds.
Fontaine Saint-Michel – Place Saint-Michel, 75005
An unmissable landmark in the lively Latin Quarter, the Fontaine Saint-Michel is ornate and dramatic, situated imposingly at the center of a busy crossroads. Designed by famed architect Gabriel Davioud (the official architect of Paris parks and public spaces in the 19th century when much urban renovation was being completed), it features Saint Michael slaying a dragon, flanked by winged chimeras. Like many symbols of the Second Empire, it was damaged by angry mobs during the 1871 uprising that led to the Paris Commune. Now repaired, it has been listed as a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture.
Fontaine de l’Observatoire – Avenue de l'Observatoire, Place Ernest-Denis, 75006 Paris
Also known as the Fountain of the Four Continents (Fontaine des Quatre Parties du Monde), this monumental piece features four women representing Africa, America, Asia, and Europe and each holding a celestial globe. Sculpted by the exquisite French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and surrounded by eight galloping horses that rear their heads in the basin, it’s a true artistic statement that sits on the edge of the Luxembourg Garden.
Fontaine Saint-Sulpice – Place Saint-Sulpice, 75006 Paris
One of the largest in the city, this massive, three-tiered fountain—also known as the Fountain of the Four Bishops (Fontaine des Quatre Evêques)—stands in front of the Saint-Sulpice Church and is surrounded by four statues of influential French bishops. Designed by the architect of Napoleon’s tomb, Louis Visconti, and flanked by lion statues, it’s a powerful presence in one of the city’s most refined neighborhoods.
Fontaine des Innocents – Place Joachim du Bellay, 75001 Paris
Paris's oldest monumental fountain, built in the 1500s, the Fontaine des Innocents was commissioned by King Henry II. With classical carvings by the sculptor Jean Goujon, it has survived relocations, restorations, and centuries of urban change. Its current location, near Les Halles in central Paris, a lively place for this vestige of the Ancien Régime (old regime) history.
L'Orangerie, Versailles Gardens - Fountaines des Innocents, Paris 1st arrondissement - Stravinsky Fountain, Paris 4th arrondissement
Trocadéro Fountain – Trocadéro Gardens, 75016 Paris
Facing the Eiffel Tower, this fountain (also known as the Warsaw Fountain) puts on a spectacular show with 20 water cannons and 68 jets. A modern water feature built for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, it's especially stunning when lit at night. It is one of the most photographed fountains in Paris.
Stravinsky Fountain – Rue Brisemich, 75004 Paris
It’s impossible to walk by the Centre Pompidou art museum without noticing the Stravinsky Fountain nearby. Colorful, quirky, and unlike anything else in the city, this modern fountain was created in 1983 by artists Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle at the time of the opening of the Centre Pompidou, which it adjoins. It features 16 whimsical, moving mechanical sculptures inspired by the music of composer Igor Stravinsky—perfect for art lovers. Often surrounded by street performances, it will delight all ages!
Fontaine Molière – Rue de Richelieu, 75001
Built in honor of France’s legendary playwright (the French Shakespeare of sorts), the Fontaine Molière includes a bronze statue of Molière himself and two marble allegorical figures symbolizing serious and light comedy, holding scrolls engraved with the playwright’s works. A hidden gem for literary fans.
Fontaine Alfred de Musset – Place du Canada, 75008 Paris
Dedicated to the romantic poet Alfred de Musset, this 1910 fountain, originally known as Dream of the Poet (Rêve du Poête) is a quiet spot tucked in a small park near the gorgeous Grand Palais. With its white marble reliefs and Corinthian columns, it’s a romantic homage to the 19th-century French poet who was known for his relationship with George Sand.
Bonus: The Wallace Fountains
These iconic green cast-iron fountains, gifted by English philanthropist Sir Richard Wallace, have provided free drinking water since 1872. (He knew that Parisians needed drinking water after the Franco-Prussian War.) There are over 100 of these public drinking fountains scattered across the city—look for them as you explore Paris on foot.
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