Who designed and produced the fountain?

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the monument, and the firm Gaget and Gautier realised the construction.

What does the central figure and chariot depict?

The sculpture represents France as Marianne on a chariot commanding major national rivers, portrayed as rearing horses with reins of water plants.

Why was the monument set up in Lyon instead of Bordeaux?

Bordeaux originally commissioned the project through a contest but abandoned the initiative due to high expenses, leading to the purchase of the sculpture by Lyon.

What structural materials make up the fountain?

The monument is built from lead supported internally by an iron frame.

Where is the sculpture situated in Lyon?

The monument stands on Place des Terreaux, positioned opposite the Fine Arts Museum.

Lyon · France

Fontaine Bartholdi: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Residents crossing Place des Terreaux navigate dense café terraces and constant pedestrian congestion just to pause beside the lead chariot on humid afternoons.

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About the place

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the lead fountain standing in Place des Terreaux.

The sculpture originated as an entry for a public square in Bordeaux rather than Lyon. Municipal officials in Bordeaux abandoned the installation due to high projected expenses, prompting Lyon to purchase the finished work. Artisans Gaget and Gautier realized the complex structure before its presentation at an international exposition.

Read on

The composition portrays France seated on a chariot while guiding plunging horses that personify the major rivers of the territory. Aquatic vegetation forms the reins and bridles held by the central figure. Sheets of hammered lead rest over an internal iron skeleton, positioned across from the Fine Arts Museum as a protected historic monument.

Associations

Frédéric Auguste BartholdiThe sculptor designed this monument following his work on the Statue of Liberty.
Place des TerreauxThe public square hosts the monument directly facing the city fine arts museum.
BordeauxCity authorities ordered the original design but canceled the purchase over high costs.
Lead and iron maintenanceThe lead shell and internal iron frame require heavy structural upkeep to prevent decay.

Facts

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the fountain, and the workshop of Gaget and Gautier realized the work.
The monument stands on Place des Terreaux opposite the Fine Arts Museum.
The structure represents France driving a chariot drawn by horses that symbolize the major rivers of the nation.
The sculpture consists of a hammered lead exterior supported by an interior iron armature.
French authorities classify the fountain as a protected historic monument.

Updated September 9, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Fontaine Bartholdi: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

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Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the lead fountain standing in Place des Terreaux.

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