Moussue (2000)
Officially called la Fontaine d’Eau Thermale (the “Hot Water Fountain”), this fountain in the middle of cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence is popularly called “Moussue,” or “Mossy.” It dates from 1734.
35-degree water from a natural hot spring emerges at the top of the fountain. The Romans may have been right in attributing medicinal properties to this water, since the moss it nourishes looks so healthy. Water may possibly flow from elsewhere on the fountain, but it’s quite impossible to see what’s underneath the moss. I can only conjecture that someone decided the fountain looked better with the moss, and stopped cleaning it. Since cars travel in both directions around this fountain, photographing it entails some risk to life and limb.
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