Li Bassinia in Huy, Belgium

Huy - pronounced "Oui" ("Yes") - is a small Belgian town located at the confluence of the Meuse and Hoyoux rivers. It is halfway between Namur and Liège. The town is famous for its rich heritage. Some forty monuments and sites are protected. The fountain on the Grand'Place, known to the locals as "Li Bassinia" ("the basin" in Walloon), is one of the most remarkable. It was listed as a „Monument Historique“ on August 1st, 1933. It was one of the first 45 monuments to be listed in Wallonia, the French-speaking southern half of Belgium. Many changes over the centuries have resulted in its complex shape. The oldest parts are the 225 cm diameter basin and the central column. Both are made of bronze. The column is topped by a crenellated tower. It is surrounded by 4 important figures from the town: Saint Catherine (the patron saint of the industrial district where the spring that feeds the fountain comes from), Saint Domitian and Saint Mengold (the patron saints of the town) and Ansfrid (the last Count of Huy in the 10th century). The 4 figures are separated by 4 smaller towers (pierced by doors). An animal's mouth spitting water emerges from each one.

The central tower was surmounted in 1596 by a representation of the "Cwèrneû" ("the horned one", named after the keeper of the town's bell tower who could sound the alarm in case of danger). In the 18th century, a rococo canopy (dais) was added to the top of the fountain. It is surmounted by a double-headed eagle. This is a reminder that Huy, as part of the Principality of Liège, was at that time a fief of the Holy German Empire. Four stone basins, each fed by a bronze lion's mouth basin, are placed at the base of the canopy. A second lion's mouth on a floor grid empties each of them. In 1881 the 4 stone pools were renovated and the names were engraved in gold lettering.

Under the base of the 4 figures, an inscription, which is now illegible, states that the fountain was the work of Pierelo del Grevier and Henri le Pottier in 1406. It's worth noting that at that time, the art of "dinanderie" - working with copper, brass or tin, as opposed to the more noble art of goldsmithing, which involved working with gold and silver - was at its height in the Meuse valley. The foundrymen of towns such as Dinant, Huy and Tournai were renowned throughout Europe. The use of metal for a large public fountain could therefore be an indication of the power of this industry in the city at the time. That a material so easily remelted survived theft, war and changing tastes is something of a miracle.

The corrosion of the metal and the separation of the stone parts made restoration necessary in early 2000s. Restoration work, which involved the complete dismantling of the fountain, began in 2009. Once the canopy was removed, it was discovered that the bronze basin stood on a stone base of exactly the same diameter. Excavations have confirmed that the foundations, water conduit and stone base are contemporary: pottery shards found in the fill date them to the late 14th or early 15th century. The basin is still in place on its original base, and the underground remains confirm the date of 1406. Following the confirmation of the age of the monument, there was talk of placing it in a museum. However, local residents and elected representatives strongly objected: the fountain was returned to its original location and, after restoration, was inaugurated in 2019.

One last important detail: the water feeding the fountain still comes from its original source! The origin of the spring is documented in a deed signed in 1407 between the town and the owner. It is located 1 km from the fountain, in the garden of the "Résidence Vallée du Hoyoux", a home for the elderly, and can be seen from the Ruelle Chantelière. The tower that protects the spring and the whole of the underground canal that leads to the Bassinia were listed as a historical monument on June 4th, 2013.

The fact that we don't know of any other 15th-century metal public fountains doesn't mean that they didn't exist: the Quinten Matsijs well in Antwerp, for example, dates back to 1490. It's impossible to say whether this is the oldest metal fountain in Europe, or even the world, but the fact that it dates from 1406, is well-preserved, still in use and in its original location makes the Bassinia de Huy exceptional.