The Quirk-tastic Fountain of Yore: La Fontaine de la Vierge, Rue Labourdonnais

Parked squarely at number 66 on Rue Labourdonnais in the heart of Saint-Paul, La Réunion, La Fontaine de la Vierge offers a less-straitlaced spin on the other heritage buildings. At first glance, this could pass for a contemporary art installation, but it is, in fact, an original 19th-century public water source, adorned with a solitary, thumbed-through book on a stationary Little Girl. The statue's right hand tips water into a large metal basin at her feet.

Despite its contemporary sheen, La Fontaine de la Vierge is no recent kid on the block; it's a veteran of the Ducel fountainry. 2010 saw this icon receive the prestigious Monument historique status, putting an end to Saint-Paul's tradition of public fountains. The artist behind this masterpiece remains a mystery, but many speculate it was the handy work of Laure Saint-Paul, commissioned back in 1877. The water was straight from a well and dispensed through the statue's other hand.

These days, the statue primarily kickstarts conversations, but it's much more than that. Just like any good destination, La Réunion keeps up a charming facade, even if that means retrofitting a water source with a modern touch.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons