Fontaine Godinot, Reims, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Fontaine Godinot stands in the middle of Place Godinot in Reims, a short walk from the cathedral. It honors Jean Godinot, a canon of Reims who made his fortune from wine and gave much of it to the city, notably to its public water supply. It is a small monument with a big story about how everyday life in Reims was improved.

The story behind it

Jean Godinot (1661 to 1749) was a churchman in Reims, a canon of the cathedral, and also a successful wine grower. He developed his own vineyard, made his own wines and became wealthy doing it. Rather than keep that money, he gave a large share of it to charity.

His best-known gift was to the city's water system. He helped pay for the development of Reims's public water supply, including some of its fountains, at a time when clean water was not something to take for granted. He lived to 88, a very long life for his era. The fountain in the square that carries his name keeps his memory alive and recalls what he did for the town.

What to look for

• Take a slow walk around the fountain itself and look at its sculpted details, which were made to honor a benefactor rather than simply to supply water.
• Notice how the monument sits at the center of the square, with the streets of Reims's busy center flowing around it.
• Look for the name Godinot on the square and think about how a man who made wine ended up giving the city its water.
• Look up and around the square at the mix of buildings that frame it, a good reminder that the city center has been rebuilt and reshaped over the centuries.

Tips for your visit

• The fountain is in an open public square, so you can see it from the street at any time. Plan only 10 to 15 minutes for a proper look and a photo.
• Daylight is best for the sculpted details, and early morning is usually the calmest time in the square.
• It is only a short walk from Reims Cathedral, so it fits easily into a morning or afternoon around the city center.
• Cafes and shops are close by, which makes the square a convenient place to pause between sights.

See it on a quest

The Fontaine Godinot is one of the places you reach on foot in Become the King in Reims, a self-guided quest through the city. As you arrive at each stop, the app tells you about the place in front of you, and you solve a puzzle using what you can see on the spot. It is a good way to learn who Godinot was while exploring the streets around the square. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.