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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Fontaine de Fer, ou fontaine Saint-Firmin

Bourges, Cher, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, registered (inscrit)
Protection
inscrit MH
Extent of protection
Fontaine de Fer (cad. HT 287) : inscription par arrêté du 27 octobre 1971
Protection dates
1971/10/27 : inscrit MH
Type
fontaine
Main period of construction
15e siècle, 16e siècle, 17e siècle
Ownership
propriété de la commune
Address
rue de la Fontaine-de-Fer
Commune
Bourges
Département
Cher
Region
Centre-Val de Loire
Country
France
Coordinates
47.09203, 2.40153
Mérimée reference
PA00096676

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1707 map "La Province de Berry. La Generalite de Bourges." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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This record on the Ministère de la Culture's POP platform ↗

The Ministère de la Culture's notice

Une source est signalée dès le 13e siècle. Ses eaux ferrugineuses étaient réputées mais son exploitation en fontaine médicale ne date que du milieu du 16e siècle, date à laquelle elle s'appelait Fontaine Saint-Firmin. Sa grande époque de célébrité fut le 17e siècle. Elle fut alors l'objet de travaux importants. En 1759, on en protégea l'accès par une grille de fer entre deux piliers, aujourd'hui disparue. La Révolution dispersa sa clientèle. La promenade qui y conduisait, plantée d'arbres et de charmilles dès le 17e siècle, était au siècle dernier le lieu d'une assemblée populaire.

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

A spring is recorded from the 13th century. Its ferruginous waters were reputed, but its exploitation as a medicinal fountain dates only from the middle of the 16th century, at which time it was called Fontaine Saint-Firmin. Its great period of fame was the 17th century. It was then the subject of important works. In 1759, its access was protected by an iron grille between two pillars, now disappeared. The Revolution dispersed its clientele. The promenade leading to it, planted with trees and hedgerows from the 17th century, was in the last century the site of a popular gathering.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Base Mérimée, Ministère de la Culture, data last updated 2026-09-17, reused under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab). Record text is reproduced unchanged. Ministère de la Culture · Licence Ouverte 2.0
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