La Belle Fontaine : a unique fresh water reserve

A fresh water supply

Facing the sea

The aiguade was built in 1696 to collect water from a spring and provide drinking water for the King’s ships. It is very likely that it was Vauban, the great military engineer of Louis XIV, who initiated the realization, during his stays on Belle-île (between 1683 and 1689). This is the reason why it is also called Aiguade Vauban.

With the Royal Fountain of St-Nazaire, near Rochefort, the Belle Fontaine is the only work still existing in France ! It becomes besides, in 1993, the first building of Belle-île, classified with the titles of the Historic buildings.

Its reservoir, with a capacity of about 850,000 liters, measures about 22.5 in length by 6.5 meters in width and reaches 6 meters in depth. It is protected by a stone arch, whose reflection in the water gives the impression of a cylindrical construction.

Completely rehabilitated

La Belle Fontaine is open to the public

In the 1950s, the Estates Department offered it, as a priority, to the city of Le Palais because of its

“historical and architectural character […] and the interest it could generate for the city.”

The municipality officially became the owner on November 17, 1954. From then on, the water of the Aiguade will be used for industrial purposes: the Petit Jean cannery (located in Port Guen) is authorized to take 10 cubic meters per day for washing fish. Later, Le Palais rented the water to a company that manufactured table water. The Aiguade Vauban ceased all activity in 1976.

In 2021, and following numerous damages of the place due to storms, the town hall of Le Palais undertakes renovation and restoration works which will last nearly three years.

It is therefore today a high place of the historical heritage of Belle-île that is offered to the visit, a must for all lovers of old stone and History!”