Fontaine Souterraine: Airvault's Hidden Spring

The Fontaine Souterraine in Airvault is a captivating historical site, a testament to the town's ingenuity in managing its water resources. Located beneath the parvis of the Abbatiale, formerly Place du Minage, the fountain collects runoff water from the Brelucan plateau, which converges to form the St-Pierre stream.Originally not underground, the fountain gradually became subterranean due to the rising ground level, estimated at 50 cm per century. This natural phenomenon explains why the three arches constructed in the 12th century, with the inscribed date of 1139, show signs of wind erosion. A second series of three arches, in the rounded style, dates back to 1806, and finally, a concrete vault was added in 1890. The bottom basin is so clear that it appears empty, a fact that amuses many tourists who throw pebbles into it to check.Legend has it that Roman medals were found near the church, suggesting that the fountain may have been a site of Gallo-Roman worship. However, a recent analysis revealed that the water is polluted, and with the advent of wells in each neighborhood, the fountain was gradually forgotten, leading to its definitive closure in 1890. Today, the fountain is accessible via a free key obtained from the Airvault Tourist Office, the Jacques Guidez Museum, or a local shop, allowing visitors to explore this hidden gem and appreciate its historical and architectural significance.