The Grenelle Artesian Well of Paris
Illustration from 1873 of the Grenelle Artesian Well in Paris, drawn by P. Broux. The well acted as a fountain, and at its peak 660 gallons a minute would flow from it.
Pictured above is the Grenelle Artesian Well in Paris, built from 1834 to 1841. During these seven years, an 8-inch diameter hole was drilled to a depth of roughly 550 meters (1,800 feet) below the earth’s surface. This process of construction took place far below ground, but in the end the well was marked with a 42 meter (138 feet) tower and fountain, placed a block away from the well itself. The tower, pictured above, was built of iron and lavishly ornamented in the Victorian style. It featured four tiers and a cupola at the top, with a central spine that contained a spiral staircase curling around a large pipe. When the well was over-pressured, this pipe provided relief by letting excess water flow into it, turning the tower into a fountain. When no water was flowing, the public could ascend the spiral staircase to view their surroundings from above. It was a deft mixture of uses which allowed the tower to be functional at all times.
The Grenelle Well is an interesting inversion of the well concept. For nearly seven years, a hole was drilled down into the earth, with very little fanfare at surface level. Pictured below is an illustration of the drilling process. Simple constructions and mechanisms produced a rotating force for an unseen object that worked far below the entire scene. Everything about the process focused on downward motion. Once water was reached and the work became a success, the owners decided to mark the occasion with a tall tower, which embodied upward motion.
Illustration by L. Guiguet showing the drilling process of the Grenelle Well in Paris. A group of horses drive a drilling mechanism that is lowered deep into the earth.
The verticality of the tower symbolizes the success of the drilling process. While functioning, water cascades down from the tower’s three tiers and mimics the upward rush of water once water is reached. It’s an interesting inversion, and it illustrates the spirit of drilling. All the work focuses on a slow and methodical downward movement. At Grenelle, this took nearly seven years. Once the goal is reached, there’s an immediate burst of violent upward motion. This happens in an instant, and it signals the end of the entire process. The stark contrast between the two cannot be overstated. Seven years of waiting, then BAM! A column of water fires out of the ground and no more drilling is required.
Illustration from 1860 showing the Grenelle Well functioning as a fountain. Original artist is unknown.
The Grenelle Well operated until water ceased flowing from it in 1903. The tower was subsequently demolished and replaced by a statue. This is unfortunate, because even without the water element the tower is a wonderful example of the Victorian aesthetic and it would no doubt still be a popular destination today.
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Information about the Grenelle Well taken from "The Artesian Well at Grenelle, in France." California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences 4, no. 21 (23 November 1855): 163., and “Artesian Wells.” Scientific American 33, no. 4 (24 July 1875): 54.