Place du Chatelet description and photos - France: Paris (Topic)

Place du Chatelet description and photos - France: Paris. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Place du Chatelet.

Photo and description

There are two theaters and one fountain on the Chatelet square. It is located in the center of the city, near the Chateau Bridge, and is one of the important transport hubs of the capital.

In French, chatelet means "knight's castle". Indeed, in 1130, Louis VI built the Grand-Chatelet fortress near the Chatelet Bridge (which was then already in existence) to protect the entrance to the Ile de la Cite on this side. But the active Philip Krivoy, the first king of France, who decided to call himself this title (before him there were “kings of the Franks”), soon built a wall around Paris, and the fortress lost its significance. For centuries it has been a prison. In 1802 Napoleon ordered to demolish it and put on this place a fountain in honor of the imperial victories.

The Victory Fountain has a second name - Palm. Designed by Francois-Jean Bralle, chief engineer of the Parisian water service, it is adorned with stone palm leaves embossed with a long list of Napoleonic victories. The Palm Fountain is an example of the Napoleonic Empire style, which combines elements of classical Roman architecture with Egyptian motives. The column is crowned with a statue of the goddess of Victory by Louis Simon Boiseau.

Opposite each other on the square are two famous “twin” theaters - Chatelet and City, which appeared here during the period of urban planning reforms of Baron Haussmann. Both buildings were designed by Gabriel Daviu, they have the same facades.

The city theater was formerly called the Sarah Bernhardt Theater - the famous actress rented it in 1899. During the occupation, the theater lost the name of the Jewish actress. In the 60s of the last century, the building was renovated at the expense of the city and received its current name. The local stage is given over to modern choreography.

Opposite is the even more famous Chatelet Theater. Here, in particular, the French national film award "Cesar" is presented. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was here that Sergei Diaghilev's Russian Seasons were staged. The theater stage saw Matilda Kshesinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky, Sergei Lifar. The great Fyodor Chaliapin sang here.

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Topic: Place du Chatelet description and photos - France: Paris.