The Trocadero Fountain, also known as the Warsaw Fountain, is a captivating landmark in Paris, France. It sits nestled in the Trocadero Garden, right below the iconic Palais de Chaillot in the 16th arrondissement.
A Fountain’s Legacy: From World Fair to Modern Masterpiece
The Trocadero Fountain has a rich history that spans over a century. Before the fountain’s present form, there was a Palais du Trocadero built for the 1878 Paris World Fair. This structure also included a waterfall fountain designed by Gabriel Davioud.
The original fountain was adorned with four bronze sculptures. These included Le Cheval à la herse by Pierre Louis Rouillard, Le Jeune éléphant pris au piège by Emmanuel Frémiet, Le Rhinocéros by Henri-Alfred Jacquemart, and Le Bœuf by Auguste Cain. These sculptures are now scattered around Paris and Nîmes.
However, the original Palais du Trocadero and its fountain were demolished in 1935 to pave the way for the modern structures we see today.
A New Fountain for a New Era: The 1937 Transformation
The current Trocadero Fountain was built for the 1937 International Exposition, a significant event that completely reshaped the Trocadero area. The old Trocadero Palace was replaced with the present-day Palais de Chaillot, and the Trocadero Garden underwent a transformation.
The fountain was designed by a team of talented architects and sculptors, including Roger-Henri Expert, Paul Maître, Adolphe Thiers, Daniel-Joseph Bacqué, and Léon-Ernest Drivier. The fountain’s grand design was described as the largest in Paris, with impressive features like twenty oblique cannons, fifty-six water sprays, and twelve water columns.
The fountain’s impressive power was driven by pumps capable of producing the strength of “a thousand horses!” During the 1937 exposition, a dazzling nighttime display was created using 530 electric spotlights, illuminating the fountain in a spectacle of light and water.
A Parisian Gem Endures: The Trocadero Fountain Today
The Trocadero Fountain has remained largely unchanged since its construction in 1937. It features a rectangular basin, adorned with smaller basins, and continues to boast its powerful water features. Twenty cannons still shoot water at a range of 50 meters, fifty-six sprays reach 7 meters, and twelve columns of water soar to 7 meters. The fountain’s impressive flow rate is 5,700 liters per second!
Adding to the fountain’s beauty are several sculptures that grace its perimeter. La Joie de vivre by Léon-Ernest Drivier and La Jeunesse by Pierre-Marie Poisson stand proudly on the Seine side. Other sculptures embellish the basins, including horses and a dog by Georges Guyot, a bull and a deer by Paul Jouve, and The Man by Pierre Traverse and The Woman by Daniel Bacqué.
The Trocadero Fountain has not only remained a breathtaking centerpiece of the Trocadero Garden, but also a symbol of Paris’s enduring beauty and artistic spirit. From its humble beginnings in the 19th century to its grand transformation in the 20th century, the fountain has captivated generations of Parisians and tourists alike. Today, it continues to stand as a testament to the power of artistry and ingenuity, a symbol of Parisian pride and elegance.
