Place du Châtelet
Encyclopedia
The Place du Châtelet is a public square in Paris
, on the right bank
of the river Seine, on the borderline between the 1st
and 4th
arrondissements
. It lies at the north end of the Pont au Change
, a bridge that connects the Île de la Cité
, near the Palais de Justice
and the Conciergerie
, to the right bank.
Two identical-looking theatres stand facing the square, the Théâtre du Châtelet
and the Théâtre de la Ville
, both designed by architect Gabriel Davioud
and completed between 1860 and 1862 as part of Baron Haussmann's grand reconfiguration of Paris.
The name "Châtelet" refers to the stronghold, the Grand Châtelet
, that guarded the northern end of the Pont au Change, containing the offices of the prévôt de Paris and a number of prisons, until it was demolished in 1802-10.
, designed in 1806 by architect and engineer François-Jean Bralle
(1750-1832) to celebrate French victories in battle. It has a circular basin, six metres (twenty feet) in diameter, from which a column rises in the form of a palm tree's trunk 18 metres (58 feet) tall. The palm trunk is surmounted by a gilded figure of the goddess, Victory
, holding a laurel wreath in each upraised hand; the goddess figure stands on a base ornamented with bas-relief eagles. The gilded finial is by sculptor Louis-Simon Boizot
.
Four allegorical figures also by Boizot ring the base of the fountain: Prudence
, Temperance, Justice
, and Strength
. From top to bottom, bands of bronze gilt pay tribute to the victories achieved in the following battles: The Siege of Danzig
(1807, Prussia), the Battle of Ulm
(1805, Austria), the Battle of Marengo (1800, Italy), the Battle of the Pyramids
(1798, Egypt), and the Battle of Lodi
(1796, Italy). Its sphinxes were designed in 1858 by Gabriel Davioud
and sculpted by Henri Alfred Jacquemart
(1824-1896); they commemorate Napoleon's victory in Egypt
.
It is served by lines 1, 4, 7, 11, and 14.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, on the right bank
Rive Droite
La Rive Droite is most associated with the river Seine in central Paris. Here the river flows roughly westwards, cutting the city into two: looking downstream, the northern bank is to the right, and the southern bank is to the left....
of the river Seine, on the borderline between the 1st
Ier arrondissement
The 1st arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France.Situated principally on the right bank of the River Seine, it also includes the west end of the Île de la Cité...
and 4th
IVe arrondissement
The 4th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France.Situated on the Right Bank of the River Seine, it is bordered to the west by the 1st arrondissement; to the north by the 3rd, to the east by the 11th and 12th, and to the south by the Seine and the...
arrondissements
Arrondissements of Paris
The city of Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements municipaux administrative districts, more simply referred to as arrondissements . These are not to be confused with departmental arrondissements, which subdivide the 101 French départements...
. It lies at the north end of the Pont au Change
Pont au Change
The Pont au Change is a bridge over the Seine River in Paris, France.The bridge is located at the border between the first and fourth arrondissements. It connects the Île de la Cité from the Palais de Justice and the Conciergerie, to the Right Bank, at the level of the Théâtre du Châtelet.Several...
, a bridge that connects the Île de la Cité
Île de la Cité
The Île de la Cité is one of two remaining natural islands in the Seine within the city of Paris . It is the centre of Paris and the location where the medieval city was refounded....
, near the Palais de Justice
Palais de Justice, Paris
The Palais de Justice , located in the Île de la Cité in central Paris, France, is built on the site of the former royal palace of Saint Louis, of which the Sainte Chapelle remains. Thus the justice of the state has been dispensed at this site since medieval times...
and the Conciergerie
Conciergerie
La Conciergerie is a former royal palace and prison in Paris, France, located on the west of the Île de la Cité, near the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. It is part of the larger complex known as the Palais de Justice, which is still used for judicial purposes...
, to the right bank.
Two identical-looking theatres stand facing the square, the Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
and the Théâtre de la Ville
Théâtre de la Ville
The Théâtre de la Ville is one of the two theatres built in the 19th century by Baron Haussmann at Place du Châtelet, Paris; the other being the Théâtre du Châtelet...
, both designed by architect Gabriel Davioud
Gabriel Davioud
Jean-Antoine-Gabriel Davioud was a French architect.Davioud was born in Paris and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under Léon Vaudoyer...
and completed between 1860 and 1862 as part of Baron Haussmann's grand reconfiguration of Paris.
The name "Châtelet" refers to the stronghold, the Grand Châtelet
Grand Châtelet
The Grand Châtelet was a stronghold in Ancien Régime Paris, on the right bank of the Seine, on the site of what is now the Place du Châtelet; it contained a court and police headquarters and a number of prisons....
, that guarded the northern end of the Pont au Change, containing the offices of the prévôt de Paris and a number of prisons, until it was demolished in 1802-10.
Fountain
At the square's center is Fontaine du PalmierFontaine du Palmier
The Fontaine du Palmier is a monumental fountain located in the Place du Châtelet, between the Théâtre du Châtelet et the Théâtre de la Ville, in the First Arrondissement of Paris....
, designed in 1806 by architect and engineer François-Jean Bralle
François-Jean Bralle
François-Jean Bralle was a French architect and engineer, best known as for the construction of fountains in Paris during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte...
(1750-1832) to celebrate French victories in battle. It has a circular basin, six metres (twenty feet) in diameter, from which a column rises in the form of a palm tree's trunk 18 metres (58 feet) tall. The palm trunk is surmounted by a gilded figure of the goddess, Victory
Victoria (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion, Victoria was the personified goddess of victory. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Nike, and was associated with Bellona. She was adapted from the Sabine agricultural goddess Vacuna and had a temple on the Palatine Hill...
, holding a laurel wreath in each upraised hand; the goddess figure stands on a base ornamented with bas-relief eagles. The gilded finial is by sculptor Louis-Simon Boizot
Louis-Simon Boizot
Louis-Simon Boizot was a French sculptor whose models for biscuit figures for Sèvres porcelain are better-known than his large-scale sculptures.- Biography :...
.
Four allegorical figures also by Boizot ring the base of the fountain: Prudence
Prudence
Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues .The word comes from Old French prudence , from Latin...
, Temperance, Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
, and Strength
Courage
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation...
. From top to bottom, bands of bronze gilt pay tribute to the victories achieved in the following battles: The Siege of Danzig
Siege of Danzig (1807)
The Siege of Danzig was the French encirclement and capture of Danzig during the War of the Fourth Coalition. On 19 March, 1807, around 27,000 French troops under Marshall Lefebvre besieged around 11,000 Prussian and Russian troops under Marshall Kalckreuth garrisoning the city of...
(1807, Prussia), the Battle of Ulm
Battle of Ulm
The Battle of Ulm was a series of minor skirmishes at the end of Napoleon Bonaparte's Ulm Campaign, culminating in the surrender of an entire Austrian army near Ulm in Württemberg....
(1805, Austria), the Battle of Marengo (1800, Italy), the Battle of the Pyramids
Battle of the Pyramids
The Battle of the Pyramids, also known as the Battle of Embabeh, was fought on July 21, 1798 between the French army in Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte, and local Mamluk forces. It occurred during France's Egyptian Campaign and was the battle where Napoleon put into use one of his significant...
(1798, Egypt), and the Battle of Lodi
Battle of Lodi
The Battle of Lodi was fought on May 10, 1796 between French forces under General Napoleon Bonaparte and an Austrian rear guard led by Karl Philipp Sebottendorf at Lodi, Lombardy...
(1796, Italy). Its sphinxes were designed in 1858 by Gabriel Davioud
Gabriel Davioud
Jean-Antoine-Gabriel Davioud was a French architect.Davioud was born in Paris and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under Léon Vaudoyer...
and sculpted by Henri Alfred Jacquemart
Henri Alfred Jacquemart
Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart , often known as Alfred Jacquemart, was a noted French sculptor and animalier....
(1824-1896); they commemorate Napoleon's victory in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Metro station
The Place du Châtelet is:It is served by lines 1, 4, 7, 11, and 14.
Sources
- The History of Paris from the Earliest Period to the Present Day, London : printed for Geo. B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria Lane, 1825, vol. 3, page 122.
See also
- First French EmpireFirst French EmpireThe First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
- Napoleonic EraNapoleonic EraThe Napoleonic Era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative Assembly, and the third being the Directory...
- Châtelet
- Châtelet - Les Halles (Paris RER)Châtelet - Les Halles (Paris RER)Châtelet – Les Halles is a major commuter train hub in Paris. Taken together with the Paris Métro stations Châtelet and Les Halles, to which it is directly connected, hosts travellers per week day , for the RER only...
- Fountains in ParisFountains in ParisThe Fountains in Paris originally provided drinking water for city residents, and now are decorative features in the city's squares and parks...