[1] On 20 April 1857, the Bordeaux city council decided to hold a competition to create a fountain for Place Quinconces.

After Bartholdi had made the Statue of Liberty in New York in 1886, the mayor of Bordeaux contacted him, but his new project was canceled after much hesitation.

The fountain depicts France as a female (Marianne) seated on a chariot controlling the four great rivers of France,[2][citation needed] represented by wildly rearing and plunging horses, highly individualized but symmetrically arranged, with bridles and reins of water weeds.

The fountain weighs 21 tons and is made of lead supported by a frame of iron and was presented at the Exposition Universelle of 1889.

1892: First inauguration on Place des Terreaux 1995: "Historic monument" classification after its relocation opposite the Fine Arts Museum June 2016: start of the restoration work March 2018: inauguration of the restored, re-watered and lit fountain Total budget for the restoration: 3.58 million euros (including a one million euro contribution from the State) The fountain was removed temporarily in 2015 for restoration and was returned in December 2017,[3] for a total budget of 2 750 000 euros.