Village water fountains once provided drinking and cleaning water for a community. Stream or river-fed, the water ran and still runs continuously into a large basin, which usually over-flows into a second basin. The second basis was used for washing clothes, and perhaps dirty kids and family pets. Everybody in Switzerland has indoor plumbing these days - at least everyone I know. The fountains now are largely decorative though sometimes they still provide other purposes. When the day is hot, and no swimming pool as it hand, they become the local 'water hole.'

The basins are fed by two bronze spigots at the base of an fluted column with an Ionic capital and Corinthian acanthus leaves. Though I did not see a date on the fountain I would guess it dates to the 1700s.

I call this the 'Garage Water Fountain' because it now lies next to a car garage and gas station. I estimate the gas station to be about fifty years old. The water fountain may well pre-date the gas station by over 200 years. At one time, perhaps, village houses crowded around the fountain. If so these buildings are long gone, and only the gas station keeps it company - and occasionally neighborhood kids.

See also:

Valangin's Chateau Water Fountain and Garage Water Fountain and the many beautiful

water fountains in the nearby town of Neuchâtel.