fontaine des Innocents
Monument Renaissance-era public fountain in central Paris
A 16th‑century Renaissance fountain near Paris’s Les Halles, the Fontaine des Innocents features classical sculpture and sits a short walk from central markets and museums.
The Fontaine des Innocents is a Renaissance wall fountain in central Paris, created in the mid-16th century. It is notable for its carved classical reliefs by Jean Goujon.
The fountain’s four sculpted nymph reliefs and pilastered stone frame are the principal artistic features to see. The architectural composition is modest in scale but important for early French Renaissance sculpture in the city.
The fountain was designed by Pierre Lescot with sculpture by Jean Goujon in the mid-1500s to adorn the cemetery of the Innocents. In the late 18th century it was relocated to its present site in the Square des Innocents and has been restored several times since.
It stands in the Square des Innocents in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, adjacent to the Les Halles area in central Paris.
- Oldest monumental fountain: Dating from the mid-16th century, it is widely regarded as the oldest surviving monumental fountain in Paris.
How to Get to fontaine des Innocents #
The Fontaine des Innocents stands in the Les Halles area of Paris on rue des Innocents, near Place Joachim-du-Bellay. Take the Metro to Les Halles (Line 4) or the Châtelet-Les Halles RER hub (RER A, B and D); from Les Halles/Châtelet stations it is an easy 2-5 minute walk to the fountain. Numerous other metro lines serving Châtelet (Lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14) also put you within a few minutes on foot.
Tips for Visiting fontaine des Innocents #
- Visit early morning or late evening to avoid the heavy daytime foot traffic around Les Halles; the fountain's 16th-century bas-reliefs show best when you can walk fully around the work without crowds.
- Approach from Rue des Innocents or the adjacent Square des Innocents to view the fountain in its small plaza setting - many visitors only glimpse it from the busy pedestrian routes and miss the sculptural detail on the lower reliefs.
- Combine the fountain visit with a short walk to nearby Musée des Arts et Traditions or the covered market area; signage and plaques at the site explain its Renaissance origin and the later 18th-19th-century re-erection and restorations.
Best Time to Visit fontaine des Innocents #
For comfortable wandering and people-watching around the Fontaine des Innocents visit in spring or early autumn; summer is busiest.
Weather & Climate near fontaine des Innocents #
fontaine des Innocents's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (694 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 67 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with 67 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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