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The Cuvier fountain and its crocodile turning its head

The fountain | Mbzt / CC-BY-SA
Fountain Animals Cuvier fountain

On the corner of rues Cuvier and Linné, we find this strange fountain dedicated to naturalist Georges Cuvier. Sculptor Vigouroux made it in 1840, in order to replace the old fountain raised by Le Bernin in the 17th century.

In the past, we found here abbey Saint-Victor, where famous monk Abélard studied... So, come on, let’s see this fountain... The lady, near the lion, is the allegory of natural history, sculpted by Feuchères.

On her tablets, we can read this: Rerum cognoscere causus, which means “The man who goes deeper in principles is sure to be happy”. Those animals heads were sculpted by Pamateau: a bear, a camel...

And, we also have this big crocodile, flanked by a big anatomical mistake: it turns its head! But crocodiles can’t do that...

About the the author

Vinaigrette
I'm fond of strolls and History, with juicy and spicy details!