Monumental Fountain

We’ve arrived at Maurice Clerc Boulevard, one of Valence’s main streets. Featuring some of the finest houses in Valence, it is animated several times a week by various markets, boutiques and restaurants of all kinds, making it an ideal place for a walk. It also unveils this fountain, which has become one of the town’s symbols. It was built in 1887 by Eugène Poitoux, who designed the famous Peynet bandstand on the Champ de Mars square. It was installed at the end of the 19th century, when the city of Valence decided to expand and embellish itself, and sought to make hygiene and health a top priority for its inhabitants, as was the case for many French municipalities at the time. So it was only natural that a fountain was chosen to decorate the square. Designed as a monumental fountain, it is topped by a large statue representing griffins, symbols of Valence’s coat of arms, and a winged figure related to Hermes, messenger of the Greek gods. It is part of the city’s commitment to both decorating the streets of Valence and enhancing the well-being of its residents. With this in mind, more than 50 drinking water fountains have been built throughout the city, along with the planting of numerous trees to make the downtown area more pleasant. And it’s quite a success, isn’t it?