Pools and fountains

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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 a hill, had to make do with a rudimentary water supply, provided by two cisterns of varying size (the one in Place du Peyrou and the one in Place des Mûriers), a water tower (in Rue des Lombards) and a single well located in the heart of the old village, in Place du Commandant Lamy, close to the site of today’s fountain.

In the early years, water from the Horts de la Salle spring – just down the avenue du Moulin de la Croix – was pumped by a waterwheel and steam engine to fill the water tower in the rue des Lombards, which then distributed the water to every fountain in the village.

. In 1889, a certain Maître Giraud, a notary in Mougins, left a substantial sum of money in his will to the town of Mougins. Work was then undertaken to modernise the water supply. A fountain and a covered wash-house were built in the main squares, along with a water pipe to supply the school complex. The water reaches the village in a more stable way.

 

But it wasn’t until 1894 that the situation really improved. The creation of the Foulon canal brought water to Mougins from Plascassier and the Foulon spring, which supplied the tanneries in Grasse. This means that fountains and ponds can be fed directly and continuously with flowing water. This small revolution was celebrated on 30 September with a memorable party featuring entertainment, costumed dances and the sounds of music (brass bands, wind bands) and orphéons (choirs) from the various districts of Mougins, Mouans-Sartoux and the surrounding municipalities.

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 sculptural fountain, which has forged the identity of the square in which it is located, represents Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, harvests and fertility in Roman mythology. At the time, it was known as the Vallat fountain, after the square where it stood.

It took on its current name in 1905, when a monument was unveiled in Mougins in memory of Commandant Lamy (grandson of the generous notary Maître Giraud, whose bequest had enabled the village fountains to be modernised, and a famous child of the village who went on to become a great explorer officer, particularly in Africa. The capital of Chad, N’Djamena, was initially named Fort Lamy in his honour).

To mark the occasion, the Vallat fountain was also moved a few metres and renamed, like the square, after Commandant Lamy. The well that used to supply it, i.e. before 1894, was removed during the works because there was no more water.

Also see…

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.
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