Fountain of the Observatory and Garden of the Great Explorers

The Observatory Fountain, also known as the Fountain of the Four Corners of the World, stands in the Marco Polo Garden in the Luxembourg Garden. Its central part are the figures of four women personifying Europe, Asia, Africa and America, who carry the globe on their shoulders. The fountain and park were made in the second half of the nineteenth century, their creator was the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux.

The park was created in tribute to two great explorers. The first of these was Marco Polo (1254 and 1324), who, according to legend, crossed Mongolia, China, Persia, and returned many riches to India. The second is Robert Cavelier-de-la-Salle (1643-1687), who traveled around North America.