Fontaine Sainte Marie, France

## Overview Fontaine Sainte Marie is a historic public drinking spring nestled in the Forêt de Meudon, a cherished woodland area in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. The spring features a traditional stone basin (*bassin en pierre*) that has long served as a refreshing stop for walkers and nature lovers exploring this scenic forest. Its name — "Saint Mary's Fountain" — suggests a connection to religious or devotional traditions, as many named springs in the Île-de-France region were historically associated with saints and pilgrimage routes. The water from Fontaine Sainte Marie has historically been used as a drinking water source by visitors to the forest, though current water quality should always be considered before consumption. The spring sits within the Forêt Domaniale de Meudon, a national forest managed by the ONF (Office National des Forêts), which covers roughly 1,100 hectares and offers a network of well-maintained trails popular with hikers, joggers, and cyclists. The surrounding area is rich in history, with the nearby ONERA (Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales) aerospace research campus and the picturesque Étang de Trivaux (Trivaux Pond) adding to the character of the landscape. ## Directions 1. Begin at the **Lycée Rabelais** in Meudon (located on Rue Georges Langrognet, 92190 Meudon). 2. From the lycée, take the **forest track (chemin forestier)** heading into the Forêt de Meudon. 3. Follow the path that runs alongside the **ONERA campus** boundary. 4. Continue along this trail toward the **Étang de Trivaux** (Trivaux Pond). 5. Fontaine Sainte Marie is located approximately **halfway along this forest track**, between the lycée and the pond. 6. GPS coordinates: **48.797678, 2.239553** — useful for navigation apps when the trail signage is limited. ## What to Expect Visitors will find a classic stone basin set along a shaded forest path. The spring is a quiet, contemplative spot — easy to miss if you're not looking for it, so keep an eye out as you walk the trail between Lycée Rabelais and Étang de Trivaux. The forest track is generally flat and accessible, making it suitable for a leisurely walk. The surrounding Forêt de Meudon is a beautiful mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, and the route passes near the Étang de Trivaux, a peaceful pond that is worth a visit in its own right. The area is especially lovely in spring and autumn when the forest canopy is at its most colorful. As this is a forest spring, water flow may vary with the seasons — it may be more robust after periods of rain and reduced during dry summer months. While the spring has historically been used for drinking, visitors should be aware that water quality can fluctuate and no current testing data is publicly available.