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Fontaine Saint-Michel

A monumental wall fountain on Place Saint-Michel, in the 5th arrondissement, at the start of Boulevard Saint-Michel. It was designed by Gabriel Davioud between 1858 and 1860, as part of Haussmann's works, and was inaugurated on 15 August 1860. Davioud had in mind a fountain dedicated to peace in the middle of the square, but the prefecture asked for a structure that would hide the blank party wall of a neighbouring building. It is a great triumphal arch about 26 metres high. In the centre, Francisque-Joseph Duret's bronze group shows the Archangel Michael defeating the devil. At the sides are two winged dragons by Henri Alfred Jacquemart that spout water, and four statues of the cardinal virtues: Prudence, Fortitude, Justice and Temperance. Nine sculptors took part. Red Languedoc marble was used for the columns, along with green marble, blue Soignies stone and yellow stone. It has been a historic monument since 1926 and is the last great wall fountain built in Paris.

Things to do at Fontaine Saint-Michel: 4 missions

• Find the two winged dragonsLook on both sides for Jacquemart's dragons, from whose mouths the water falls into the basin.
• See St Michael defeating the devilStand in front of the fountain and find Duret's central bronze group, with the archangel over the devil.
• Notice the red marble columnsGet close to the façade and compare the red marble of the columns with the blue and yellow stone of the rest of the structure.
• Identify the four cardinal virtuesCount the four statues on the façade: Prudence, Fortitude, Justice and Temperance.

Near Fontaine Saint-Michel

Source: Wikipedia - Fontaine Saint-Michel