Place de la Nation square in Paris
This is like a large roundabout or intersection with numerous roads converging on the historical square that originally had a throne in it, then a guillotine during the French Revolution and lastly an impressive statue you can still admire today.
About Place de la Nation
The Place de la Nation has a full official name of the Square de la Place de la Nation, and when you look back at the history of this square, you will find that dating from 1660 it was originally called the Place du Trone, and has seen some very historical events over the centuries.
However, one of the reasons that the Place de la Nation is recognised, is due to the fact that it was the site of a guillotine during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, but also because of the monumental bronze statue group called the Triomphe to the Republic, or Le Triomphe de la Republique in French, which was produced by Aime Jules Dalou.
Yet it has also been the stage for a concert in the 1960s that attracted over 150,000 people, but is also often a starting or finishing point for major demonstrations, just like the Charlie Hebdo rally that took place in the January of 2015 from the Place de la Replublique finishing at the Place de la Nation.
Now this square in Paris is actually circular and is located on the borders of the 11th and the 12th Arrondissements, and it is like a giant roundabout or intersection with numerous roads converging on it, like the Avenue du Trone that goes to the Porte de Vincennes, and on to the Bois de Vincennes.
Another road you may recognise, is the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine that goes to the Place de la Bastille, whereas the Boulevard Diderot takes you from the Place de la Nation to the River Seine, and the Boulevard Voltaire takes you to the Place de la Republique.
But even though this is a busy intersection in Paris, this square is bordered by numerous trees, grass areas and pretty flowerbeds, including beautiful rose beds, which makes the Place de la Nation an unusual yet lovely garden area, plus there is even a band stand located here, which is often used for impromptu concerts.
Visiting Place de la Nation in Paris
You will find that this square is located to the east of Paris in the 12th Arrondissement and is permanently open for people to walk around and admire the statue, which is like a central area of a roundabout or intersection.
And when it comes to public transport in Paris, you will find that there is a Metro station located right here called the Nation stop, which serves lines 1, 2, 6 and 9, but as we mentioned earlier, there is also an RER train station here by the same name that serves line A of the RER.
