Squares in Paris
Encyclopedia
Paris is known as the City of Light. Part of the credit for this soubriquet can be ascribed to long-standing city ordinances that have restricted the height of buildings in the central city. A more modest skyline, interrupted only by the Eiffel Tower
, the Tour Montparnasse
, Sacré-Coeur, and a few church steeples, lends this city's citizens virtually unfettered access to natural light. Nonetheless, another significant contributor to the feeling of openness in Paris is the vast number of public spaces, both green and paved, interspersed throughout all twenty arrondissements, that afford the citizen the opportunity to escape, if only momentarily, his urban environment and partake of air and light like his cousins in the provinces. The following article (and its accompanying list) concern the public spaces known as squares and places in Paris.
or, simply, a "green" (as in "the village green
").
However, the French use of the word, "square", presents some small problems in interpretation because native speakers of English use the same word to mean a notable urban crossroads (like Times Square
in New York
) or an urban roundabout
(like Trafalgar Square
in London), where neither grass nor trees nor flowers are present. Such a public space would be called a place in Paris: as in Place de l'Étoile or Place des Vosges or Place de Clichy. The French use of the word "place", —— where, in the USA, the UK, Canada, etc., an English-speaker would use the word "square", —— follows the pattern established in other European languages: the Spanish use the cognate, "plaza" (like Madrid's Plaza Mayor); the Germans use "platz" (Berlin's Potsdamer Platz
); the Italians use "piazza" (Rome's Piazza Navona
); etc.
So, in summary, the French have "squares" that might (or, more likely, might not) be called "squares" in English, and they use the word "place" to denote what an anglophone would almost certainly call a "square".
Rarely, the "square" and its associated place share a name:
Finally, there are some pairs (of squares and places) where the name of the square is a bit artificial, but the relationship is, nonetheless, clear:
; ping-pong tables in the Square Emile-Chautemps and the Jardin de l'Observatoire; pony or carriage rides at the Parc Monceau
; tennis courts, boules, and croquet at the Jardin du Luxembourg
; Guignol marionette puppet shows at the Jardin du Ranelagh; roller skating at the Parc Montsouris; a bee-keeping school at the Jardin du Luxembourg
; bandstands featuring spring and summer concerts at the Square du Temple and the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, etc.
These open spaces also beckon visitors just to wander and daydream, and many offer lush green lawns for sitting, taking a rest, or perhaps a picnic. One is advised, nonetheless, to watch for signs posted on lawns that are accessible to the public: pelouses autorisées (lawns authorized for use) and "pelouses au repos" (lawns for resting).
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
, the Tour Montparnasse
Tour Montparnasse
Tour Maine-Montparnasse , also commonly named Tour Montparnasse, is a tall office skyscraper located in Paris, France, in the area of Montparnasse. Constructed from 1969 to 1972, it was the tallest skyscraper in France until 2011, when it was surpassed in height by the Tour First...
, Sacré-Coeur, and a few church steeples, lends this city's citizens virtually unfettered access to natural light. Nonetheless, another significant contributor to the feeling of openness in Paris is the vast number of public spaces, both green and paved, interspersed throughout all twenty arrondissements, that afford the citizen the opportunity to escape, if only momentarily, his urban environment and partake of air and light like his cousins in the provinces. The following article (and its accompanying list) concern the public spaces known as squares and places in Paris.
The word "square"
In Paris (and, more generally, in France), the English word, "square", has been borrowed to describe a particular type of public space. Specifically, a Parisian "square" is a small urban green space that is not large enough to be called a parc (the grassy variety) or a bois (the woodsy variety), and it is not sufficiently formal in its plantings to be called a jardin. In the English-speaking world, a Parisian "square" might be called a vest-pocket parkPocket park
A pocket park, parkette or mini-park is a small park accessible to the general public. In some areas they are called miniparks or vest-pocket parks....
or, simply, a "green" (as in "the village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
").
However, the French use of the word, "square", presents some small problems in interpretation because native speakers of English use the same word to mean a notable urban crossroads (like Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) or an urban roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
(like Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
in London), where neither grass nor trees nor flowers are present. Such a public space would be called a place in Paris: as in Place de l'Étoile or Place des Vosges or Place de Clichy. The French use of the word "place", —— where, in the USA, the UK, Canada, etc., an English-speaker would use the word "square", —— follows the pattern established in other European languages: the Spanish use the cognate, "plaza" (like Madrid's Plaza Mayor); the Germans use "platz" (Berlin's Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz is an important public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany, lying about one kilometre south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag , and close to the southeast corner of the Tiergarten park...
); the Italians use "piazza" (Rome's Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones , and hence it was known as 'Circus Agonalis'...
); etc.
So, in summary, the French have "squares" that might (or, more likely, might not) be called "squares" in English, and they use the word "place" to denote what an anglophone would almost certainly call a "square".
Squares and places
To make things a bit more complicated, in Paris, a "square" (small green space) may abut a place (large public square), or a "square" may, in fact, be contained within a place. The "square" and the associated place typically have different names. Some examples are:- Square des Innocents and Place Joachim du Bellay
- Square Marcel Pagnol and Place Henri Bergson
- Square des BatignollesSquare des BatignollesThe Square des Batignolles, which covers 16,615 square metres of land , is the largest green space in the 17th arrondissement of Paris...
and Place Charles Fillion - Square Berlioz and Place Adolphe Max
- Square de la Trinité and Place d'Estienne-d'Orves
- Square Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Place Franz Liszt
- Square Monseigneur Maillet and Place des Fêtes
- Square Thomas Jefferson and Place des États-UnisPlace des États-UnisThe Place des États-Unis is a public space in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France, about 500 m south of the Place de l'Etoile and the Arc de Triomphe....
Rarely, the "square" and its associated place share a name:
- Square Ferdinand BrunotFerdinand BrunotFerdinand-Eugène-Jean-Baptiste Brunot was a French linguist and philologist, editor of the ground-breaking Histoire de la langue française des origines à 1900 ....
and Place Ferdinand BrunotFerdinand BrunotFerdinand-Eugène-Jean-Baptiste Brunot was a French linguist and philologist, editor of the ground-breaking Histoire de la langue française des origines à 1900 .... - Square de la Chapelle and Place de la Chapelle
Finally, there are some pairs (of squares and places) where the name of the square is a bit artificial, but the relationship is, nonetheless, clear:
- Square de la place André-Masson
- Square de la place Dauphine
- Square de la place de Bitche
- Square de la place de la Bataille de Stalingrad
- Square de la place de la Nation
- Square de la place de la Réunion
- Square de la place d'Italie
- Square de la place du Commerce
- Square de la place Étienne Pernet
- Square de la place Pasdeloup
Characteristics of Parisian squares
In all Parisian squares, gardens, and parks, you will find areas reserved for children, with playgrounds, sandboxes, see-saws, swings, merry-go-rounds, and the like. Some spaces offer a wider range of activities; some random examples are: toy boats to sail, as well as sulky and go-cart rentals in the Jardin du LuxembourgJardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris (224,500 m²...
; ping-pong tables in the Square Emile-Chautemps and the Jardin de l'Observatoire; pony or carriage rides at the Parc Monceau
Parc Monceau
Parc Monceau is a semi-public park situated in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, at the junction of Boulevard de Courcelles, Rue de Prony and Rue Georges Berger. At the main entrance is a rotunda. The park covers an area of 8.2 hectares ....
; tennis courts, boules, and croquet at the Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris (224,500 m²...
; Guignol marionette puppet shows at the Jardin du Ranelagh; roller skating at the Parc Montsouris; a bee-keeping school at the Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris (224,500 m²...
; bandstands featuring spring and summer concerts at the Square du Temple and the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, etc.
These open spaces also beckon visitors just to wander and daydream, and many offer lush green lawns for sitting, taking a rest, or perhaps a picnic. One is advised, nonetheless, to watch for signs posted on lawns that are accessible to the public: pelouses autorisées (lawns authorized for use) and "pelouses au repos" (lawns for resting).
List of squares and places in Paris
As of 1 May 2008, the city of Paris acknowledged the following public squares (in the broader 'English' sense of the word). A citizen of Paris will notice, of course, that the following alphabetized list includes both "squares" (smaller green spaces) and places (larger urban landmarks), which have been segregated from one another within this single list.0/9
- Place du 11-Novembre-1918
- Place du 18-Juin-1940
- Place du 25-Août-1944
- Place du 8 Février 1962Place du 8 Février 1962The Place du 8 Février 1962 is a public square located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, specifically in the Charonne district, at the intersection of the Rue de Charonne and the Boulevard Voltaire....
- Place du 8 Novembre 1942Place du 8 Novembre 1942The Place du 8 Novembre 1942 is a public square located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, at the intersection of the Rue La Fayette and the Rue de Chabrol, and limited by the Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière....
A
|
|
|
B
|
Place Blanche Place Blanche in Paris, France is one of the small plazas along the Boulevard de Clichy, which runs between the 9th and 18th arrondissements and leads into Montmartre.... |
Square des Batignolles The Square des Batignolles, which covers 16,615 square metres of land , is the largest green space in the 17th arrondissement of Paris... |
C
|
Place de Clichy The Place de Clichy, also known as "Place Clichy", is situated in the northwestern quadrant of Paris. It is formed by the intersection of the Boulevard de Clichy, the Avenue Clichy, the Rue Clichy, the Boulevard des Batignolles, and the Rue d'Amsterdam.... Place de la Concorde The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :... |
|
D
|
Docteur-Félix-Lobligeois Docteur-Paul-Michaux |
docteur Antoine-Béclère |
E
|
Square des Épinettes The Square des Épinettes is a green space in the Épinettes district of Paris . It was created in 1893 by Jean-Camille Formigé. Two sculptures in the garden represent famous personalities of the area : Maria Deraismes, a feminist, and Jean Leclaire, an entrepreneur.It covers 10,420 square meters.... |
F
|
|
G
|
|
|
H
|
|
I
|
|
J
|
-et-Simone-de-Beauvoir Place Joachim-du-Bellay Place Joachim-du-Bellay is a vast square located near the center of Paris, France, on the path of the 1st arrondissement of Paris.This square is located near Les Halles and the Pompidou Center, along with being surrounded by many ethic restaurants and stores, thus making this a well provided for... |
|
L
|
|
M
|
|
et des Saint-Simoniens Square Montholon The Square Montholon is a square in the IXe arrondissement of Paris, France.Construction of the 4571m² square began in 1862, costing 160,000 francs, at the time of building of Rue Lafayette and opened in 1863.... |
N
|
|
O
|
|
P
|
Place Pigalle The Place Pigalle is a public square located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, between the Boulevard de Clichy and the Boulevard de Rochechouart, near Sacré-Cœur, at the foot of the Montmartre hill... Porte-de-Bagnolet Porte-de-Champerret Porte-de-Châtillon Porte-de-Montreuil Porte-de-Saint-Cloud Porte-de-Versailles Place des Pyramides Place des Pyramides is a public square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. It is located in the middle of the Rue de Rivoli, at its intersection with the Rue des Pyramides and Avenue du General Lemonnier, at the western end of the Tuileries Garden.... |
|
Q
|
|
R
|
Square René Viviani The Square René Viviani is a public square adjacent to the Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre in the fifth arrondissement of Paris.-Location:... |
S
|
|
|
T
|
|
U
|
|
V
|
Place des Vosges The Place des Vosges is the oldest planned square in Paris.It is located in the Marais district, and it straddles the dividing-line between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris.- History :... |
|
Y
|
|