Pools and fountains
Going back in time along the water…
Until the mid 20th century, water arrived in the old village and irrigated the town through a network of canals, pools and fountains. Discover these remnants, symbols of prosperity, life and fertility since the dawn of time !
A little history
For a long time, the inhabitants of Mougins, a village perched on its rock, contented themselves with a rudimentary water supply, provided by a few cisterns and one single well located in the heart of the old village, on the Place du Commandant Lamy, near the location of the current fountain. It disappeared when its water resources ran dry.
In 1889, thanks to a legacy from Maître Giraud, a notary in Mougins, the water arrived in the village in a more stable fashion. A fountain and a covered wash house were built on the main squares, and a water pipe allowed the school complex to be supplied.
In August 1894, thanks to the action of the mayor, Honoré Henry (1894-1896), the water from Plascassier and the Foulon spring that supplied the tanneries in the town of Grasse finally arrived in Mougins via the Foulon canal.
Not to be missed in the old village…
The Roger Vergé fountain
This fountain welcomes visitors on the Place des Patriotes, at the entrance to the village. It pays homage to the famous chef Roger Vergé (1930-2015) who created Mougins’ gastronomic renown by establishing the Michelin-star restaurant, the Moulin de Mougins, and the Amandier in the town as of 1969.
Le Lavoir – The Wash House
The municipal wash house, built in 1894, was the place where the village’s washerwomen met up to wash the laundry and exchange gossip. Used until 1970 by a few courageous people, it was able to keep its soul and old-style charm. Today, it regularly houses temporary art exhibitions and an impressive monumental nativity scene at the end of the year.
The Maryse Duhalde fountain
Nestled in a lush green backdrop, this fountain is one of the oldest in the village. In an Italian style, it was renamed in 2005 in homage to Maryse Duhalde, the wife of Roger Duhalde, the honorary mayor of Mougins from 1977 to 2001. It adds a bucolic and refreshing touch to the eponymous square that serves as its backdrop.
The Friendship Bench and the Carla Lavatelli fountain
The Friendship Bench against the church and the fountain that flows along the adjacent alley were created in 1995 by the Italian-American artist Carla Lavatelli to celebrate the centenary of water arriving in Mougins.
The Commandant Lamy fountain
This fountain represents Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, the harvest and fertility. It was inaugurated on 24 June 1894 to mark the arrival of water in the village from the Foulon canal. A sculptural fountain that forged the identity of the square in which it is housed, and which was gifted to the town by Maître Giraus in exchange for a mass performed at the funeral of his famous grandson, commandant Lamy (a son of the village who became a famous officer and explorer, especially in Africa. The capital of Chad, N’Djamena, was initially named Fort-Lamy in his honour).
Also see…
- Les Isnardons fountain, Rue des Isnardons
- The Church fountain, Place de l’Église
- The two-headed fountain, Place Commandant Lamy
- The de Lattre de Tassigny fountain, Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
- The Mûriers fountain,place des Mûriers
The bollard-fountains (water distributors in the shape of a bollard, generally made of cast iron and worked using a push button or a lever). They can be found in Rue des Lombards, Rue Maréchal Foch, Rue des Migraniers, Traverse Rebuffel and even on the children’s playground at the entrance to the village.
Firm favorite :
The old fountain
Situated at the bottom of the village, at the bend in a quiet, narrow street, this fountain-washhouse nestled in its bucolic setting evokes an impressionist painting. Of the nymphaeum type (a basin containing a spring considered sacred at the time), the complex probably dates from the 16th century. It consists of a so-called “miraculous” fountain, a mule trough, a washhouse, and a reservoir that distributed the water needed for watering the crops below the fountain thanks to a judicious system of small pipes, with a time slot for each field.
Also to see outside the old village…
The Angouin fountain and wash house
Built in 1847 on the old Abadie flour mill path, this construction also included a stopping place for horses and their riders. (Avenue de Pibonson)
The Bargemon fountain and wash house
Located on Avenue de Pibonson, they were built in 1834 thanks to the profits from selling cut wood.
The Font-Neuve fountain and wash house
Built in 1826 on Chemin de Font-Neuve with the profits from selling cut wood, this fountain is fed by two upstream springs. It served the Font-Roubert district and once comprised a thirst-quenching stopping place for pedestrians and for riders and their horses.
Pool and fountain
Horts de la Salle
Fed by a spring located 100 m upstream, this fountain was the first water conveyance in Mougins. As of 900 years CE, it allowed for tending the surrounding gardens and later those of the village, mostly devoted to growing dried beans. The Horts well was in operation until 1906.
