• Historic site and monument

The Champignon de la Versoie

Situated on the edge of the Spa Park, along Avenue du Général de Gaulle and nicknamed the «mushroom» because of its shape, this fountain was built in 1937 by Louis Moynat.

Historic site and monument The Champignon de la Versoie Thonon-les-Bains

About

Thonon-les-Bains (74200)
Unguided individual tours available permanently

Marie-Françoise Constantin's wishes were respected: a 10-liter/minute spout was installed at the hospital and a public fountain, replaced in 1937 by the Versoie fountain. Also called " the Mushroom of Versoie " by the regulars, because of its characteristic shape, the fountain is set up at the edge of the thermal park, on the current avenue of the General de Gaulle.
Still in activity, this mushroom was designed by the architect Louis Moynat in 1936.

The mosaic, in earthenware, which decorates the fountain is the creation of André Lhote, a renowned French painter. The work represents naiads in the form of water carriers, in the ancient style.
One figure is in a static position facing the viewer; the next is depicted in profile and is walking. This dynamism is accentuated by the undulation of the tesserae representing the rays of the sun
The eight women are linked by an undulation of yellow and green tesserae, evoking the movement of water.

The lower part of the cylinder is made up of four mottos forming a circular frieze, in yellow and blue sandstone-ceramics (heraldic colors of Thonon). One can read there:
- "Fountain of Versoie"
- To wash their kidney filter, the Romans sought this water" History of medicine
- Domine da mihi aquam" Saint François de Sales
- Living water, happy water, humans have celebrated your name " Anna de Noailles

In 2007, this mosaic was restored by Yves Decompoix, who won the regional restoration prize for this work.

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    Opening

    All year round, daily.
    Closed exceptionally on 25/07/2023, 26/07/2023, 27/07/2023, 28/07/2023, 29/07/2023, 30/07/2023, 31/07/2023, 01/08/2023, 02/08/2023, 03/08/2023 and 04/08/2023.

    Labels and rating

    20th C
    Art Nouveau or Art Déco

    Equipments
    • Parking

    Access

    Avenue du Général de Gaulle 74200 Thonon-les-Bains
    Information update on 21/07/2023 by Office de Tourisme de Thonon-les-Bains