Petit-Montrouge in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe
Square de l’Abbé Migne (1880)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2024
1. Square de l’Abbé Migne (1880) Marker
À l'emplacement du square se trouvait la barrière d'Enfer dont les deux pavillons ici sont les vestiges. En effet, 61 barrières d'octroi ponctuant le mur des Fermiers généraux (1784- 90), étaient affectées à la collecte de l'impôt sur les marchandises entrant dans la capitale. En 1879, fortuitement, l'ancienne place d'Enfer prend le nom de Pierre Denfert-Rochereau (1823-1878), défenseur héroïque de Belfort en 1870. Le Lion de Belfort est installé en 1880 et le square est créé. En 2019, les allées ont été élargies afin de mieux accueillir les visiteurs du musée des Catacombes.
This square pays homage to Jacques-Paul Migne (1800-1875), author and publisher of theological works. Typical of Haussmann-ian gardens, its winding paths outline grassy and tree-lined areas while offering perspectives and settings for sculpted works: here, the monument to the painter Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet (1792-1845), created by Alexandre Charpentier in 1896, truncated from its bronze elements melted in 1941.
On the site of this square was the Barrier d'Enfer (literally “Gate of Hell”), of which the two pavilions here are the remains. Indeed, 61 tax barriers punctuating the mur des Fermiers généraux (“wall of the Farmers General” - a toll-collection complex, 1784-90), were assigned to the collection of tax on goods entering the capital. In 1879, fortuitously, the old Place d'Enfer took the name of Pierre Denfert-Rochereau (1823-1878), the heroic defender of Belfort in 1870. The monumental statue of the Lion of Belfort was installed in 1880 and this square, known then as Place d’Enfert, was created. In 2019, the paths were widened to better accommodate visitors to the Catacombs Museum.
Erected by Ville
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Parks and Squares of Paris series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 48° 50.044′ N, 2° 19.962′ E. Marker is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in Petit-Montrouge. It is on Place Denfert-Rochereau, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Paris, Île-de-France 75014, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Catacombes (within shouting distance of this marker); Autour des Catacombes / The Catacombs Neighborhood (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Lion de Belfort/ The Lion of Belfort (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2024
2. Square de l’Abbé Migne (1880) Marker - wide view
Also see . . . Square de l'Abbé-Migne (Wikipedia, in French). (Submitted on May 15, 2024.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2024
3. Monument to Charlet (mentioned on marker)
As noted on the marker, the bronze statuary that were part of this monument were melted down in WWII - see the following photo for an idea as to how the monument appeared previously.
Photographed by E. Le Deley, Paris, circa 1905
4. Place d’Enfert with Monument à Charlet
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 163 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 15, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
