La Ville Verte

An informal photo dump and some thoughts on French building elements, establishments, food and people.

01., “Les Fontaines Wallace:”

This cast iron sculpture, painted a dark green to blend in with the Parisian streetscape, is not just a work of art but also a fountain. Commissioned by Sir Richard Wallace, these fountains brought clean drinking water to Parisians for free as early as 1876.

Prior to Wallace’s donation, most of the water consumed by Parisians was drawn from the Seine river and was dirty, as run-off from streets and sewers drained into it. Not only was this a health hazard, but it drove people to quench their thirst with beer or other alcoholic beverages (which was, apparently, almost as cheap as water at the time).The temptation of alcohol was strong, and so it was considered a moral duty to people from falling into alcoholism. In the same vein, when closely admiring the caryatids, you will notice that each one is different from the others. They represent kindness, simplicity, charity and (you guessed it) sobriety.

Who knew the history of public water could be so interesting? And that water-fountains contributed to the beautification of Paris?

Fun Fact: there are 107 fountains across the city!

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03., Vélib: I think we’re all familiar with the stereotype of a Parisian on a bike, wearing a beret and carrying a baguette. Much to my surprise, these individuals do exist!

I was fascinated today by the cute, green bikes that seemed to be scattered far and wide across the city. Curious, I asked Google and found that “green commutes” and “cycleability” are important to Parisians. This city was one of the first to adopt the bike-sharing system, which has become a part of everyday life for many Parisians (the particular bike pictured above in the collage can be rented through the Vélib’ program/ Metropole).

When France experienced reduced public commuting during COVID, city authorities took the opportunity to build close to 40 miles of bike lanes to add to the city’s already extensive bike lane network. By 2026, Paris aims to be 100% cyclable with over 180,000 bike parking spaces. I am impressed by Paris’ eco-friendly form of urban mobility.