HISTOIRES D’EAU

Toulouse is situated on the banks of the River Garonne. People have always needed water. It cleans, quenches thirst, irrigates and provides the power that drives water mills.

This unique tour allows you to understand how Toulouse has made use of water from springs and the Garonne. The city’s water supply has always been a concern. For a long time, the people of Toulouse were forced to fetch water directly from the river. Indeed, the wells dug in the Middle Ages (both private and public) quickly became unsanitary due to the seepage of dirty water dumped in the streets.

Between the 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment, and the 19th century, the Age of Progress, things began to take shape. A focus on hygiene and medical advances improved sanitary conditions through water filtration.

For a long time, the few water points and the single public fountain in Place St Etienne served strictly functional purposes. It was in 1838 that the water tower finally made it possible to organise a distribution network to supply new fountains throughout the city. They became more ornamental and even served as genuine decorative features within the urban landscape. Fountains then took on musical qualities through the play of flowing water, acted as geographical landmarks, or even served as true memorials, such as at Place Wilson!

Even today, water remains a subject for reflection. This tour demonstrates that fountains (whether with water or not), which have been neglected since the advent of running water, are more than ever a mirror of the times…

Good to know:
- Between 15 June and 15 September, during orange and red alerts and when the temperature is 35°C or higher, adjustments to the route are made and the tour is shortened to 1½ hours. In the event of a red alert, tours may be cancelled and refunded.