Fontaine Ferdinand Nicolas

The fountain was built in the middle of the 19th century as a drinking water supply. The water comes from a spring in Renardmont, an elevated hamlet. The water comes in 3 large tanks that are fed through the mouth of a wolf.

The source was donated by Ferdiand Nicolay, born in Stavelot and a successful businessman.

The wolf is omnipresent in the streets of Stavelot. He is also depicted on the city's emblem, which shows him with a sack on his back full of stones. Legend has it that Saint-Remacle forced the wolf to carry the bag of stones needed to build the monastery after it bit his donkey to death.

Another legend was attached to this building: Satan would only find peace when he could destroy Remacle's begun work...Remacle was warned about the despicable plan of the devil to throw a huge stone on the abbey under construction. Dressed like a simple monk and hiding under a hood, he went so to meet the devil, loaded with a sack full of old shoes. When he arrived, he heard the devil, who was carrying a heavy stone, ask if the abbey was still far away. “And whether” was the reply, from Remacle, “here are all the shoes I've worn since I left Stavelot”. Discouraged, the devil dropped the stone. The stone is still there and known as 'pierre du diable'.

Pierre du Diable Stavelot - Rock party | RouteYou

Willem Vandenameele