Ain El Fouara Fountain
Ain El Fouara Fountain is a famous landmark in Setif, Algeria. In the middle of Independence Square stands a white marble statue of a naked woman, created in 1898 by French sculptor Francis de Saint-Vidal. The statue sits inside a fountain that uses a local spring for its water.
There are several stories about how the statue came to Setif. One version says it was shown at the Louvre in France for a world sculpture event and then sent to Setif. Other tales link it to royal lovers in France. The exact origin isn’t clear, but the statue has become a symbol of the city.
The fountain and statue have inspired poems, music, and celebrations, and many people in Setif view it as part of the city’s identity. However, the statue has also sparked controversy. Some conservative voices call the partly nude figure indecent and want it removed or covered.
The statue has been damaged several times. On April 22, 1997, during Algeria’s troubled period, a bomb shattered the statue, but it was rebuilt and restored within 24 hours. In December 2017, another vandal damaged it, and the Ministry of Culture announced plans to restore it using careful conservation methods. In 2015, a religious leader suggested that people should not drink from the fountain, and some proposed covering the statue to ease religious concerns.
Today, Ain El Fouara Fountain remains a central gathering place in Setif and a symbol of the city’s history and resilience. Some people still view it with reverence as a cultural treasure.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:10 (CET).