Fontaine Celeste (Heavenly Fountain), Noumea
The Heavenly Fountain in Noum茅a鈥檚 Coconut Square carries as much drama as beauty. Installed between 1892 and 1894, it was carved from Mont B茅rard stone by convict labor under the direction of sculptor Paul Mahoux. Officially inaugurated in 1895, its debut was anything but smooth鈥攄elays, budget overruns, and even vandalism marked its first years. Yet, out of that turbulence emerged one of Noum茅a鈥檚 enduring symbols.
At its top stands the figure that gave the fountain its name: C茅leste Benyamina, a 17-year-old local of mixed heritage who modeled for the semi-nude statue. When unveiled, the figure caused outrage in conservative colonial society, but over time she became a familiar face, as much a part of the city as the bandstand across the square. The fountain鈥檚 very name, 鈥淗eavenly,鈥� nods both to C茅leste鈥檚 identity and to the lofty aspirations of a colonial town eager to display sophistication.
By the 20th century, the fountain had shifted from controversy to civic pride. In 1992 it was declared a protected monument, recognizing both its artistry and its place in Noum茅a鈥檚 history. Restoration campaigns in the mid-1990s and again in the early 2010s breathed new life into its water jets, stonework, and lighting, keeping it central to the square鈥檚 layout and atmosphere.
Today, the Heavenly Fountain marks kilometer zero鈥攖he point from which all road distances in New Caledonia are measured. Locals use it as a meeting point, tourists photograph it endlessly, and its stone basin continues to frame concerts, markets, and festivals that fill Coconut Square. What began as a fraught colonial project has grown into a touchstone of the city, blending artistry, symbolism, and the quirks of history in the heart of Noum茅a.
At its top stands the figure that gave the fountain its name: C茅leste Benyamina, a 17-year-old local of mixed heritage who modeled for the semi-nude statue. When unveiled, the figure caused outrage in conservative colonial society, but over time she became a familiar face, as much a part of the city as the bandstand across the square. The fountain鈥檚 very name, 鈥淗eavenly,鈥� nods both to C茅leste鈥檚 identity and to the lofty aspirations of a colonial town eager to display sophistication.
By the 20th century, the fountain had shifted from controversy to civic pride. In 1992 it was declared a protected monument, recognizing both its artistry and its place in Noum茅a鈥檚 history. Restoration campaigns in the mid-1990s and again in the early 2010s breathed new life into its water jets, stonework, and lighting, keeping it central to the square鈥檚 layout and atmosphere.
Today, the Heavenly Fountain marks kilometer zero鈥攖he point from which all road distances in New Caledonia are measured. Locals use it as a meeting point, tourists photograph it endlessly, and its stone basin continues to frame concerts, markets, and festivals that fill Coconut Square. What began as a fraught colonial project has grown into a touchstone of the city, blending artistry, symbolism, and the quirks of history in the heart of Noum茅a.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Noumea. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Fontaine Celeste (Heavenly Fountain) on Map
Sight Name: Fontaine Celeste (Heavenly Fountain)
Sight Location: Noumea, New Caledonia (See walking tours in Noumea)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Noumea, New Caledonia (See walking tours in Noumea)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Noumea, New Caledonia
Create Your Own Walk in Noumea
Creating your own self-guided walk in Noumea is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Noumea Introduction Walking Tour
Noum茅a is often said to resemble a town in southern France. As the capital of New Caledonia, it wears its history in layers鈥擪anak, French, and everything in between. The city鈥檚 name likely comes from a Kanak word, though the precise meaning is lost鈥攎uch like other fragments of the island鈥檚 precolonial past. For centuries, the Kanak people lived here in clan-based communities, shaping a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles