Saint-Omer, ville d'art et d'histoire...
The Sainte-Aldegonde Fountain
In 1756, the Magistrate decided to build a large decoration of fountain against the bedside of the Sainte-Aldegonde church which rose at this place. Closed down during the Revolution, the church was ruined by the fall of its bell-tower in 1800. The fountain, which had been preserved was preserved. It is engineer Nezot, come to Saint-Omer to carry out the plan in relief of the city, which gave the drawing of the new fountain and was charged to supervise construction of it. The fountain includes/understands three great niches which alternate with two narrow gates whose framings are decorated shells. A surmounted balustrade of four muds crowns the unit. Two of them are due to the scissors of Jean-Charles Chifflart (1725-1782). Above the central niche, two statues representing the principal rivers of the area, Aa and the Lily, frame the weapons of the city. They go back to 1856. In spite of some modifications, the Sainte-Aldegonde fountain presents in the city the most beautiful testimony and most complete of art Louis XV.
At the time of the construction of this fountain, was born the third wire from the dolphin, the future Charles X, who accepted from the king Louis XV, his/her grandfather, the title of Count d' Artois. The Magistrate dedicated the new monument to the young prince as testify some the two first into Latin engraved in the central niche: " It is at the time when the majestic child receives the name of the province of Artois that this decoration comes to enrich the fountain - 1756 " the three other inscriptions point out the benefits of water and the solicitude of the municipal officials: In the niche of right-hand side: " water by renewing the life purifies the heart of the fault of the father and more obviously, it seals the thirst for the citizens. " In the niche of left: " It is the faith which built the temple and the concern envisaging of the municipal officials (built) the fountain: those worked for their fellow-citizens, that one for God. " In the central niche: " One century after, under the majorat of Folard, a more abundant water spouts out; with the pediment a nymph and a god sat - 1856. "