Louvois Square in Paris
With a monumental fountain and its rich history that goes back to the 1700s, this is one of the few green spaces within the 2nd Arrondissement and a lovely place to relax.
A bit of history
In this area there was once a mansion house called the Hotel de Michel Le Tellier where the Marquis de Louvois once resided, however, when this was demolished it was replaced by a Paris opera house.
This opera house was in the location of where you can visit the Square Louvois today, and this was running from the late 1700s under the original name of Salle Montansier, then Theatre National and then Theatre des Arts.
And when you look at the history of Paris there were some major events that took place here, including an attack on Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800 when he was on his way to this opera house, with several people being killed and injured.
Yet the most significant event was in 1820 when Charles Ferdinand the Duke of Berry was attacked and died from his injuries as he was leaving the theatre. And being the son of the future King Charles X, he could have produced an heir and future king for the Bourbon branch of royalty, and although his wife was expecting at the time, this never happened. Instead, it ended up being the Orleans branch of royalty with King Louis Philippe becoming the King of France.
But getting back to this theatre in Paris, it was decided that it should be destroyed after the murder, and the opera house was eventually demolished in 1825 and a memorial was erected in its place.
The area then became known as Place Richelieu due to its location, and according to Victor Hugo, had a monument dedicated to the Duke of Berry and was laid out as one of the squares in Paris in 1830.
However, the Place Richelieu was completely redesigned by Jean-Charles Alphand and Jean-Antoine Gabriel Davioud, who have both produced other significant works in Paris including the Fontaine Saint-Michel, the Theatre du Chatelet and the Champs Elysees Gardens to name a few.
The original monument was no longer in the square, and it was renamed the Square Louvois after the Marquis de Louvois who was a minister for King Louis XIV, and the new square was completed in 1844.
About Square Louvois in Paris
This square in Paris also now had a monumental fountain constructed, which was designed by Louis Visconti, who is probably most famous for designing the Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte located at Les Invalides, even though he was instrumental in many other projects undertaken in Paris.
And known as the Fontaine Louvois, this can still be admired within the Square Louvois today, which was inaugurated on the birthday of Napoleon III who had given the orders for the square and fountain to be constructed.
There are park benches dotted around the garden area where you can sit and relax while listening to the water spouting from the fountain, or admire the different viarieties of shrubs, bushes, flowers and trees including seven substantial chestnut trees and pagodas.
In addition to this, there is a small memorial plaque dedicated to Jewish children that died during the atrocities in World War II, plus, if you can read French, there is a Histoire de Paris plaque at the entrance to the Square Louvois detailing some of its history along with an ornate post bearing its name.
Visiting Square Louvois in Paris
Now this is only one of two squares located in the 2nd Arrondissement that have been classified as certified green spaces, yet we would like to point out that it only opens at 8am during weekdays and 9am at weekends.
The Square Louvois closes at different times of an evening depending upon the time of year, from as early as 5pm through to as late as 8pm in summer, but you may be pleased to know that areas are accessible to the disabled and there is a water point for filling up your water bottles.
Now when it comes to getting to this square and fountain in Paris, the entrance is located on the Rue de Richelie right by the Bibliotheque Richelieu-Louvois. And the nearest Metro stations are the Bourse stop via line 3, the Palais-Royal - Musee du Louvre stop via lines 1 and 7 and the Pyramides stop via lines 7 and 14, yet the Paris buses numbered 20, 29, 39, 48, 67, 74 or 85 will also get you close by.
