Greve Square is one of the scariest and most mysterious places in Paris. Now, as before, this is a favorite place for Parisians, only the reasons for gathering people on it are completely different. What is so attractive about this place, which is mentioned in many French literary works?
Square location
Now the name of the square is the Hotel de Ville, but we will return to this a little later. Getting to Greve Square is not difficult even for a child. Any taxi driver will take you there in a matter of moments, you just need to name the address Place de l'Hotel de Ville.
If you want to save money and get on the subway, it's also easy, because the station is called Hotel de Ville. And it is located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.
History of Place Greve
The place under study began its existence even when even Paris was not Paris. And there was Lutetia on the island of Cité. That was the name of the sandy shore in the middle of the Seine. And if earlier it was an island on the river, then soonthe river began to flow in the city. Since the population of old Lutetia could no longer fully accommodate on the island, they decided to occupy the nearby territories as well.
And if earlier it was just a shore, a pier, then soon the place became a real port. After all, it was thanks to the Seine that Paris began to grow and develop rapidly. The Seine provided the city with everything it needed: water, food, trade, and more.
And this very shore becomes practically the center of Paris in those days. Everything happened in the study area. Starting from trade and ending with execution. But we will return to this main phenomenon of the Greve Square a bit later. In the meantime, consider 2 versions, thanks to which this place got its name.
Version One
Greve Square got its name because of the word la greve, which means "sandy shore". That is, since earlier it looked like an ordinary sandy shore, then, accordingly, the name came from there. Specifically, the very name "Grevska Square" this place received when it had already ceased to be just a shore, but became the focus of the life of the inhabitants.
The Guild of Merchants (Navigators) also originated there. They quickly took almost all power into their own hands, acquiring a powerful and influential economic, and even political, status. The motto and emblem of the authoritative guild became part of the coat of arms of Paris itself, where it is located today. This is a small boat with a sail, swaying on the waves, and under it the inscription Fluctuat nec mergitur, which intranslated from Latin it sounds like this: "Shaky, but not sunk".
When in the XIII century. Since the guild took control of the city into their own hands, they built a city government building on the sandy shore, which eventually became known as the town hall. It was then that this place became the main one in the city, since it was there that all the most important city events took place.
Version two
Another hypothesis for the appearance of the name "greve" comes from the word aire la greve, which means "to strike". This version appeared later than the first, but it definitely has the right to exist. And the reason was the frequent strikes of the townspeople.
The square was almost a home for the non-working population. They often went on strike to express their disagreement about any aspect of life. They gathered on the upper part of the shore, where there was a small platform.
Hotel de Ville
Greve Square in Paris received its current name "Hotel de Ville" at the beginning of the 19th century. Despite the fact that the French are very sensitive to history and keep all its manifestations, in this case they parted with the old name without regret.
And all because of the very terrible reputation that the square has acquired over 5 centuries of terrible executions. That eerie aura that surrounded this place, in theory, should have gone along with the old name. Indeed, even in philosophy, the phenomenon of the Greve Square is interpreted as a symbol of medieval justice. At least that's what the French hoped. Howeverwriters of world-famous works did not allow this to be done. In their stories, the Greve Square comes to life again and conveys all the horror of the events of that time.
Through the mouths of writers
Greve Square was often mentioned by writers in their works. Victor Hugo described it as a dark, terrifying place. It was here that Esmeralda from the book "Notre Dame Cathedral" was executed. In the novel "The Last Day of the Condemned to Death", she is also often mentioned.
Dumas described the area in the book "Viscount de Brazhelon" and "Two Dianas". They immediately burned at the stake, like a sorcerer, Geoffrey de Peyrac from the cult book "Angelica" by A. and S. Golon.
Events on the square
Perhaps the main thing that made the Hotel de Ville famous is the executions. There was everything in Greve Square. Quartering, torture, wheeling, gallows, beheading, burning at the stake and more.
Each execution was accompanied by howls and hoots from the excited crowd. These bloody spectacles continued for more than 5 centuries. There was a "royal box" in the town hall, from where the kings and their retinue watched the execution.
By the way, for the nobles, the punishment was less terrible and quick than for the commoners. If the former, depending on the severity, were quickly deprived of their heads, then the latter were subjected to longer torture.
Heretics were burned at the stake. Just like the books. So, in 1244, 24 carts with Talmud scrolls, which were collected from all over France, were brought to the square. They were burned in large numberspeople.
A special execution awaited the regicides. In history, it is noted that even the corpse was executed. It was the notorious Jacques Clement who killed Henry III. By deception, he entered the king and stabbed him with a poisoned dagger. The guards managed to grab and kill him. But the next day, his dead body was brought to the square, where they were quartered and burned.
In 1792, the guillotine appeared on the Place Greve. And her first victim was the thief Jacques Pelletier. And already at the beginning of the next year, at the end of January, Louis XVI himself was executed. Under the cries of "Long live the revolution," the executioner Sanson raised the severed head of the monarch above the crowd. In total, he carried out 2918 executions, after which he retired and died peacefully at the age of 67.
Many representatives of the royal dynasty were guillotined. Many revolutionaries suffered the same fate. It happened that during the era of terror, more than 60 people were executed in a day. The last time a guillotine blade cut off the head of Hamid Dzhandubi was in September 1977. In 1981, she ended her mission and went straight to the museum.
It is noteworthy that, in addition to terrible executions, mass celebrations were also held on the square. One such holiday was Saint John's Day. So in the center of the square a high pillar was installed, which was decorated with garlands. And at the very top they hung a bag in which a dozen live kittens or a fox rushed about in fear. And around the pillar they laid firewood for a large fire, the first to be set on fire by the king himself.
City Hall building then and today
As we wrote earlier, the first building was built in the XIII century by order of the prefect of the Guild of Navigators Etienne Marcel. But in the 1530s, King Francis I started new construction. He was so impressed by the architecture of Italy that it was decided to build the new building in the Renaissance style, but France, which suffered from "Gothic", did not allow these plans to be fully realized. Therefore, both the Gothic and the Renaissance were mixed in the new building. The construction, which began in 1533, dragged on for a long 95 years. However, this building was not preserved as such, as in 1871, during the Bloody Commune, the building was burned down.
For a very long time no one touched the ruins and even wanted to leave it as a warning to the protesters. But the excellent location gave impetus to a new round. And in 1982, the city hall of Paris appeared, which has survived to this day. Now it is a palace with a rich interior design that delights both the residents themselves and the guests of the French capital.
More than 100 statues of prominent figures, historians, politicians, artists adorn the facade of the building, which is 110 meters long. And 30 statues - allegories of French cities.
The interior design of the halls is made in the Empire style, which explains the huge crystal chandeliers on the painted ceilings, multi-colored stained-glass windows, stucco and luxurious frescoes.
Our days
Today nothing reminds of the horrors that happened on the old Place Greve in Paris (see photo below). The townspeople calmly walk, relax and have fun in those very places.
AllThe area is a pedestrian zone. In size, it has become much larger than before. It is 82 meters wide and 155 meters long.
In warm weather, most of it is for playing volleyball. And in winter, a huge street skating rink is poured here, where those who wish can ride for their own pleasure.
In the summer, concerts of young performers are held. Also, during major international sporting events, huge screens are installed that broadcast events live from the competition venues.
However, here, as in the old days, protests are held on any political or social issues.
