I’m back in Switzerland for this first December fountain. The delightful “Le Vieux Carouge”, with its specific old French-Italian architecture, its abundance of fountains, courtyards, shuttered houses and bohemian vibe, doesn’t feel at all like you are in Geneva.
If you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules
This month is a free for all so if you have a fountain to share I’m sure she would love to see you.
One of my favourite fountains is in the Jardin Anglais in Geneva, Switzerland. This large bronze fountain with its superposed basins borne by naiads was the work of the Parisian sculptor Alexis André in 1862.
THE NAIADES were fresh-water Nymphs who inhabited the rivers, streams, lakes, marshes, fountains and springs of the earth. They were immortal, minor divinities who were invited to attend the assemblies of the gods on Mount Olympos.
Don’t you just love the rounded bellies and dimpled knees?
and the wonderful folds of the drapes; the texture of the rope.
If you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules
This month she is looking for stately or ornate fountains. I’m sure she would love to see you.
This playful and useful stone drinking fountain is in Geneva’s Old Town, possibly in or close to Place De La Madeleine.
If you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules
This month she is looking for stone fountains. I’m sure she would love to see you.
Another fountain from the Old Town in Geneva. So many fountains in Switzerland!
If you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules
This month she is looking for stone fountains. I’m sure she would love to see you.
The Jet d’Eau (‘water stream‘) is the 140 m (459 ft) high fountain in Lake Geneva. It’s located just in front of the promenades of Geneva, and is the key part of the city’s skyline. The fountain dates back to 1886, but actually it wasn’t meant to be a fountain from the beginning. It was a technical necessity, only created to release pressure from a water station. When it started attracting visitors, it was moved to a better location and a powerful pump was installed. Today, the water emerges from the nozzle with a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). source
Why is it unusual? Well from this perspective it looks as though it is taller than Mount Salève (?) in the background! And it is (I believe) the tallest fountain in the world.
If you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules
This month she is looking for unusual details on fountains/unusual fountains. I’m sure she would love to see you.
Still in Geneva whilst enjoying coffee in the Old Town on the Place du Bourg, I was people watching. The youngsters coming home from school flung their school bags in the dust and clambered on to this pretty 18th century flowered fountain to quench their thirst. This young lad spotted me and my camera 🙂
if you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules. This month she is looking for fountains featuring people or animals. I’m sure she would love to see you.
This month Polianthus is looking for fountains featuring people or animals. This interesting looking black swan basilisk dragon / scultone* was captured in the Carouge district of Geneva. Such a fabulous place for spotting artistic fountains!
Carouge had been a separate entity from Geneva until 1816. Most of the buildings in Carouge were designed by architects from Turin, as commissioned by the King of Sardinia at the time which may account for the feeling I had of being in Italy.
*A sort of dragon basilisk in Sardinia, Italy. The Scultone lived in bushlands and was immortal. It was known to have the power to kill human beings with its gaze
if you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules. I’m sure she would love to see you.
Dancing street fountains in the Place des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Be careful crossing this square as you could get very wet!
if you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules. I’m sure she would love to see you.
Earth laughs in flowers 