Discover the unusual Lion Fountain in the Jardin des Plantes : History and curiosities

The Lion Fountain in the Jardin des Plantes, near the entrance gate on rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, is an invitation to plunge into history. The peculiarity of one of the fountain's lions, which seems to be sniffing a human foot, arouses curiosity and reflection.

Here are some key facts about this iconic work:

• Origins : The labyrinth reservoir, designed by Charles Rohault de Fleury in 1834, was fed by the Ourq canal. At the time, it supplied water to the Garden's various fountains via a pump placed beneath the basin.
  
• Sculptures : In 1857, Henri-Alfred Jacquemart was commissioned to create a bronze depicting the story of Woira, the lion from the Versailles menagerie. It was joined by a second lion, initially destined for the Louvre's parterres, but finally awarded to the Muséum in 1860.
  
• Composition : The fountain is composed of two imposing bronze lions towering over a rock. Behind them, a basin holds the water, which then flows to the fountain below, nestled among the rocks.
  

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The largest basin in the Jardin des Plantes, at the foot of the Buffon belvedere and the great labyrinth, is the famous Fontaine aux Lions. In the past, this basin played a crucial role as a water reservoir for summer horticultural irrigation. Until the 1950s, frogs croaked happily in this place.

In addition to the Fontaine aux Lions, the Jardin des Plantes is home to other aquatic treasures:

• Two wells, one at the south entrance and the other in the Jardin Alpin.
• Several Wallace fountains, ideal for quenching the thirst of strollers.
• One of the last two Wallace wall fountains in Paris, set into the wall of the Jardin des Plantes on rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire.
  

Every nook and cranny of the Jardin des Plantes is brimming with stories and discoveries. The Fontaine aux lions is one of those hidden gems you'll be delighted to have explored.

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