Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Southern portion of the Prasat Nakhon Luang
Prasat Nakhon Luang
Lenin’s Head, Tsinandali
The Tunnels of Tabor
What hidden tales lie buried beneath?
Pirate Grave, Portland
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The Codex Gigas (the Devil’s Bible) open to the portrait of the devil.
Codex Gigas: Who Drew the Devil in This Massive Medieval Bible?
about 15 hours ago
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
1 day ago
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
4 days ago
Biosphere 2 campus (2016)
Biosphere 2: How Volunteers Survived for 2 Years in an Airtight Habitat
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Paris The Stravinsky Fountain

The Stravinsky Fountain

A series of abstract, silly sculptures represent the works of a great modern classical composer.

Paris, France

Added By
kelseyv64
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Stravinsky Fountain   Carl Campbell / CC BY-SA 2.0
Stravinsky Fountain   Carl Campbell / CC BY-SA 2.0
The Stravinsky Fountain.   David McSpadden/CC BY 2.0
  Michael Busch / Atlas Obscura User
Tinguely’s sculptures are dark while Saint Phalle’s are colorful.   Rodney/CC BY 2.0
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
“La Sirene” (the Mermaid).   Dylan J C/CC BY 2.0
The Stravinsky Fountain.   Vinicius Pinheiro/CC BY-SA 2.0
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lips representing “L’amour.”   John Althouse Cohen/CC BY-ND 2.0
Under construction   brian 8c8c0447 / Atlas Obscura User
Closed for renovations  
The figures of “La Mort” (Death) and “L’oiseau de Feu” (the Firebird).   Guilhem Vellut/CC BY 2.0
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Fontaine Stravinski   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This unusual fountain is intended to evoke the emotional and sometimes strange music of Igor Stravinsky. In addition to the expected treble clef, a clown's bowler hat, a pair of red lips, and a mermaid with water squirting out of her breasts are some of the fountain's figures inspired by the most influential classical music of the 20th century.

This is the work of sculptor Jean Tinguely and painter Niki de Saint Phalle. Tinguely's works are typically in a Dadaist style—intricate machine-like structures painted shining industrial black. Saint Phalle's works, on the other hand, are primitive and bright. The combination of these two styles makes the fountain appear whimsical and disorderly.

According to Tinguely, the "circus-like" chaos of the fountain is intended to evoke Stravinsky's encounters with jazz. Additionally, the artists asked that the water be left untreated and that moss be allowed to grow on the fountain so that nature could contribute to the work.

It wasn't without controversy though. When it was unveiled in 1983 some found the primary colors and abstract shapes gaudy and at odds with the refinement of classical music. The fountain remains one of the most photographed attractions in the neighborhood though.

The artists did not want the fountain to overwhelm the already eye-catching Centre Pompidou. The fountain is low to the ground and approachable, with low-powered motors in the waterworks so that visitors can wade in the water on hot days. 

Related Tags

Sculptures Fountains Classical Music Music Art Public Works

Community Contributors

Added By

kelseyv64

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, philoursmars, Michael Busch, Michelle Cassidy...

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • philoursmars
  • Michael Busch
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • brian 8c8c0447
  • kevincmiller

Published

February 14, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://travelfranceonline.com/stravinsky-fountain-near-centre-pompidou/
  • http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/fontainestravinsky.htm
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stravinsky_Fountain
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Stravinsky
The Stravinsky Fountain
Fontaine Stravinsky
Rue Brisemiche
Paris
France
48.859478, 2.351546
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Centre Pompidou

Paris, France

miles away

Dans le Noir?

Paris, France

miles away

Gold 20-stater of Eucratides I

Paris, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paris

Paris

France

Places 205
Stories 42

Nearby Places

Centre Pompidou

Paris, France

miles away

Dans le Noir?

Paris, France

miles away

Gold 20-stater of Eucratides I

Paris, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paris

Paris

France

Places 205
Stories 42

Related Stories and Lists

14 Dramatic Fountains That Have Very Little Chill

fountains

By Eric Grundhauser

Related Places

  • The Neptune Fountain in the Promenade, from the front

    Cheltenham, England

    Neptune Fountain

    Believed to be inspired by the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

  • The rear panel on Çanakçı Heykeli featuring a woman on a donkey.

    Avanos, Turkey

    Çanakçı Heykeli

    This giant work of Cappadocian pottery includes a memorial for the artisan who created it.

  • Claudio Parmiggiani sculptural head

    Rennes, France

    ‘A Fountain’ by Claudio Parmiggiani

    Like the monarchs in its home country, this sculpture keeps losing its head.

  • The Sound Arch.

    Ojai, California

    Trimpin Sound Arch

    Make sweet music as you walk through this interactive sonic sculpture.

  • Dolly Parton Statue

    Sevierville, Tennessee

    Dolly Parton Statue

    An ode to "The Queen of Appalachia."

  • Virtuoso Sculpture

    Houston, Texas

    Virtuoso Sculpture

    Once seen as a bit of an eyesore, this sculpture has become a staple of downtown Houston.

  • ‘Cromatico’

    Tallinn, Estonia

    'Cromatico'

    This set of concrete chambers resonates according to different notes of octaves.

  • Tinguely Fountain

    Basel, Switzerland

    Tinguely Fountain

    This artistic fountain display pays homage to this area's theatrical history.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.