Fontaine de l'ours

The Bear fontain (Andenne)

Used by the housewives of yesteryear, the fountain is located Rue d’Horseilles in Old Andenne. It represents a bear pierced with an arrow, sculpted in bas-relief and which was discovered at the “Thier de l’Ours” to the south of Andenne cemetery which supplied most of the stones used in the building of Andenne church. A stone set in the wall bears this inscription: “CHARLES MARTEL DE PEPIN 2 FILS NATVREL EN L’AN SEPT CENT PEV PLVS ME MIST ICY A MORT CRVELE” (This is the spot where Charles Martel, natural son of Pepin II, in the year seven hundred, put me to a cruel death), recalling the feat of Charles Martel who was said to have vanquished with his bare hands a bear that was terrorising the region.

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