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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Fontaine du Pilori

La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, registered (inscrit)
Protection
inscrit MH
Extent of protection
Fontaine du Pilori : inscription par arrêté du 17 mars 1925
Protection dates
1925/03/17 : inscrit MH
Type
fontaine
Main period of construction
2e quart 18e siècle
Dates
1720, 1721
Architect or builder
Vilennes de (maître de l'oeuvre)
Ownership
propriété de la commune
Commune
La Rochelle
Département
Charente-Maritime
Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Country
France
Coordinates
46.16264, -1.14953
Mérimée reference
PA00104882

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1714 map "Carte du Gouvernement d'Orleanois" (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

D'après la tradition, cette fontaine aurait tiré son nom d'un pilori qui aurait existé en cet endroit. Ce nom pourrait également être relié à un puits où les habitants venaient puiser de l'eau, son nom étant parfois orthographié Puilori ou Puiy-Lory. Ce puits est mentionné dans le récit d'entrée de Charles IX à La Rochelle, en 1565. Cette fontaine était anciennement enfoncée de 15 pieds au-dessous du niveau de la rue et se trouvait alors en dehors des murailles de la ville. Sa dégradation entraîne sa reconstruction à partir d'un plan établi en 1720 par l'ingénieur de Vilennes. La fontaine fut terminée l'année suivante, à l'exception des sculptures et armoiries.

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

According to tradition, this fountain would have taken its name from a pillory that would have existed in this place. This name could equally be connected to a well where the inhabitants came to draw water, its name sometimes being spelled Puilori or Puiy-Lory. This well is mentioned in the account of the entry of Charles IX into La Rochelle, in 1565. This fountain was formerly sunk 15 feet below street level and was then outside the walls of the town. Its deterioration led to its reconstruction from a plan established in 1720 by the engineer de Vilennes. The fountain was completed the following year, except for the sculptures and coats of arms.

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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