Fountains

Water has never been much of a problem in Cogolin, unlike in other Provencal villages. Water has never been much of a problem in Cogolin, unlike in other Provencal villages.
This is because the old town is founded on a volcanic mound and surrounded by the foothills of the Maures mountains. The water which flows abundantly in this wooded massif streams down from the mountains to feed into our underground reservoirs. The piped water as we know it today did not exist in the town until the early 19th century.
In 1821, a spring was discovered which flows all summer and supplies a public fountain on the outskirts of the village. The first fountain was constructed in 1857, in the heart of the old village.
In 1867, a public trough was built, the “Font Vieille” (old fountain). In 1913 and 1914, two fountains were set up, on Avenue de la Gare (now called Avenue G. Clemenceau). Then two circular basins were built: one in the middle of Place de la Mairie, surrounded by a wire fence to prevent accidents, the other on Place Victor Hugo, which proved to be short-lived.
In the late 19th century, in order to increase the number of fountains in the streets, an underground basin system, fed by a pumping station, was constructed. The water was conveyed to the fountains through pipes and intermediate basins by the force of gravity.

Fountains visible today: the town hall fountain, the Demeure Sellier fountain (with three spouts), the fountain on Place de l’Abbé Toti (known as the mushroom fountain) and the fountain on Place Victor Hugo.
Fountains which no longer exist: the old fountain (trough), Square Jean Moulin, Rue Marceau, Rue de la Résistance, Rue Carnot, and the trough in front of the Tourist Office.