Place LaMartine, Paris, France

## Overview Place LaMartine is a historic public drinking spring located in the upscale 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. Constructed in 1881, this tapped spring has been providing water to Parisians for well over a century. Situated just off the prestigious Avenue Victor Hugo, the spring sits in a quiet neighborhood square that offers a charming contrast to the bustle of one of Paris's most elegant boulevards. The spring dates to a period of significant investment in Parisian public infrastructure during the late 19th century, when the city expanded its network of public fountains and water sources to improve sanitation and access to fresh water for residents. While many of these historic water points have since been decommissioned, Place LaMartine's spring has endured as a functioning public tap — a small but meaningful piece of Paris's civic heritage. ## Directions 1. Take **Métro Line 9** to the **Rue de la Pompe** station. 2. Exit the station and head northwest toward **Avenue Victor Hugo**. 3. Walk a short distance along or near Avenue Victor Hugo until you reach **Place LaMartine** (located in the 75016 postal code area). 4. Once in the square, look for the **playground** — the tap is located **behind the playground**. 5. The spring is accessible **24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round**. ## What to Expect The spring takes the form of a simple public tap, characteristic of the utilitarian yet enduring design of late 19th-century Parisian water infrastructure. It is tucked behind a children's playground in the small, leafy Place LaMartine, making it easy to overlook if you don't know where to look. The surrounding neighborhood is quintessentially Parisian — elegant Haussmann-era buildings, tree-lined streets, and a calm residential atmosphere. The square itself is a pleasant spot to pause, especially if you're exploring the 16th arrondissement on foot. The area around Avenue Victor Hugo and Rue de la Pompe offers plenty of cafés, bakeries, and shops if you'd like to combine your visit with a stroll through one of Paris's most refined quarters. Because this is a tapped and constructed spring rather than a wild or untreated source, the water has historically been used as drinking water by locals and visitors alike. That said, as with any public water source, conditions can change over time, and visitors should use their own discretion. The spring is open around the clock, making it a convenient stop at any time of day or night. There is no fee to access it.