Nation Square

This location is situated on the route connecting Paris and Vincennes. Originally a pastoral expanse with gardens, convents, and educational facilities, it was transformed into the square known today. Notably, a throne was erected here in 1660 for Louis XIV's grand entrance to Paris post-wedding, leading to its initial name, "Place du Trône" (Throne Square). To honor this, Colbert commissioned a triumphal arch, with Charles Le Brun and Claude Perrault vying for the design. Ultimately, Perrault's plan, featuring an equestrian statue of the king, was selected, but the construction was abandoned and later demolished.

In 1787, Claude-Nicolas Ledoux added two columns at the Farmers-General's wall, later adorned with statues in 1845. During the French Revolution, the square was renamed "Place du Trône-Renversé" (Overturned Throne Square) and became the site of the guillotine, where a significant number of executions took place.

Among those executed here were notable figures such as Charles de Sartine and his wife, Cécile Renault and her family, Henri Admirat, Jean-Baptiste Michonis, Denis Pierre Jean Papillon de La Ferté, Josse-François-Joseph Benaut, the Carmelites of Compiègne, André Chénier, Jean-Antoine Roucher, and Marie-Thérèse de Choiseul-Stainville.

In the 19th century, there were plans for urban development, including a proposal for an elephant statue and a new triumphal arch under Napoleon III to honor French military victories. These plans featured a model of the arch, a circular portico, and a fountain with hippocampi and a Victory figure. Hector Horeau later suggested a grandiose triumphal gate adorned with columns, ship prows, statues, and trophies, further enhancing the square's grandeur.

The central monument, "Le Triomphe de la République" (The Triumph of the Republic), is a bronze group commissioned in 1879 by the City of Paris from the sculptor Jules Dalou. It was inaugurated twice: first in 1889 for the centenary of the French Revolution, in a painted plaster version, and then in 1899 in its final bronze form. The Republic, at the top of a chariot drawn by two lions, is surrounded by various allegorical figures: the Genius of Liberty guiding the chariot, Labor symbolized by a blacksmith pushing the chariot, assisted by the allegory of Justice, and finally, Abundance closing the procession by scattering fruits symbolizing prosperity. Children accompany or assist the main figures.

The central statue, which has been preserved, faces the Place de la Bastille, thus creating a frequently used "Republican axis" for popular demonstrations.

Until 1941, the sculptural group at the Place de la Nation was located in the center of a basin adorned with monumental bronze alligators spewing water.

These statues, along with many others, were destroyed on the orders of the occupying forces to the French authorities to recover the metal during World War II. Shortly before their melting, they were photographed by Pierre Jahan. They had also been photographed by Auguste Léon in 1918 for the Archives de la Planète (Albert-Kahn Collection).

The current name of the square, "Place de la Nation," was adopted in celebration of the national holiday on July 14, 1880, during the Third Republic.

During her tenure as Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo initiated the redevelopment of several squares, including the Place de la Nation in 2018 and 2019, in order to revise the allocation of public space, which had previously been primarily dedicated to traffic (with the central ring reduced from 26 to 12 meters) in order to increase areas for pedestrians, cyclists, green spaces, and terraces. Temporary arrangements were made to finalize the projects in consultation with local residents.

It had been proposed that the square could be connected with the T3a or T3b tramway lines, which would have been extended from the Porte de Vincennes. This would have allowed users of these lines to have a transfer point with the Paris Metro lines 2, 6, and 9, as well as with the RER line A at the Nation station. However, this project has not progressed.