Fontaine Charles de Gonzague - Charleville-Mézières

The fountain was inaugurated on 17 October 1899 on the Place Ducale as a tribute to the founder of the city. In March 1999, one hundred years later, it was moved to the rue Pierre-Bérégovoy for works, much to the anger of the descendants of the original investors in the statue.

The basins and the 6.20 metre high pedestal are made of Vosges granite, the work of marble sculptor Pelletier Dapremont. The pier is crowned by a 3.5 metre high bronze statue of Charles de Gonzague . The other figures, children riding tritons and lion heads in cast iron, were cast in Val d'Osne by Gaudinot L.

In 1606, Charles de Gonzague decided to make Charleville the capital of his new principality of Arche . He chose a location 45 km from Rehtel, the capital of his duchy. This monastic city would allow him to extend his influence over Northern Europe.

Willem Vandenameele