Square Paul Painleve in Paris
Named after a mathematician and politician, there are several statues and monuments within this small garden in Paris that was first laid out in 1900, yet now has an almost medieval feel with its tranquillity by the Musee de Cluny.
About Square Paul Painleve
This is only a small square in Paris that was first laid out in 1900 by the architect Jean-Camille Formige, who designed this little oasis of tranquillity for people to relax away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets like the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Boulevard Saint-Michel.
It was named after Paul Painleve who was a mathematician and a politician, yet also interested in engineering and aviation, he was the first passenger in the Wright’s plane in France and even set up an aeronautics course plus was the Prime Minister for a short period of time plus the War Minister during World War I.
But getting back to the Square Paul Painleve, in the year 2000, the landscape designers Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurieres redesigned the square with a medieval theme to resemble the gardens of the Musee du Cluny, yet certain ornamentation still remained intact.
The first monument in Paris you can discover here was designed by the architect Henri Paul Nenot, and produced by the sculptor Jules-Clement Chaplain, back in 1909. And this is more like a memorial with a bust in the centre yet is also one of the ornate water fountains in Paris, which is in memory of Octave Greard, who was a highly regarded educator and instrumental in establishing schooling for girls.
The next one at the Square Paul Painleve is dedicated to the memory of the French artist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, who was the co-founder of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts. And this statue in Paris was produced by Jules Desbois in 1924.
Another monument is also to be found in the Square Paul Painleve, which is dedicated to Michel de Montaigne, who is recognised a one of the most influential French philosophers of the Renaissance.
And this particular statue of Montaigne sitting, was originally produced in marble by Paul Landowski back in 1934, however, it was replaced by a bronze copy in the 1960s, and there is an inscription on the base.
There is also another statue, which was donated by the city of Rome in the 1960s when the two cities were twinned, and this is a bronze statue of a wolf suckling Romulus and Remus that is called La Louve Romaine.
But apart from the statues and monuments within the Square Paul Painleve, you can also sit and relax on one of the park benches and enjoy some of the different varieties of trees such as apple and elm trees along with mulberry bushes and numerous perennials that are located in the central part of the garden.
Visiting Square Paul Painleve in Paris
You will find this square in Paris located at the Place Paul Painleve in between the Sorbonne and the Musee de Cluny, Musee National du Moyen Age, in the 5th Arrondissement.
This small garden with its statues in only open from 8am on weekdays and 9am at weekends and on National French holidays, yet the closing times vary depending upon the time of year, being approximately 5pm during winter and 7.30pm in summer.
Now when it comes to getting to this unusual square, the nearest Metro station is the Cluny - La Sorbonne stop via line 10, or a little further away you have the Saint-Michel Notre-Dame stop serving metro line 4 as well as the RER B line, however the bus numbers 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 63, 85, 86 and 87 will also get you close by.
