St Bertrand de Comminges (Haute-Garonne)
This fountain is in the ancient hilltop village of St Bertrand des Comminges. In seeking some information about it, I was directed to Isabelle Sourroubille of the Olivétains, who kindly sent me the
following text, which I have translated from the French:
"In the work of Patrick Mahot, The City of St. Bertrand des Comminges in the Middle Ages one single text mentions the fountains of the
village in the middle-ages (page 121): 'The means of bringing of water to a fortified medieval town remain somewhat enigmatic. We know there were fountains in the village from the 13th century
(mentioned in the city records) and undoubtedly cisterns. One fountain was situated in capite pontis and the other near la porte L'hérisson. (Note: this is probably the fountain in
question. BD) Both are probably of Roman origin, and were re-fed in the 19th century by the Source de Maouloc at the south of the hill. An act from 6th of May 1495 inventoried in the 18th century
by the paleographer Larcher mentions the existance of a fountain but not its precise placement." Merci beacoup, Isabelle Sourroubille! Website about St Bertrand de
Comminges. |
Closeup of statue.
The lavoir