Montmartre in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe
La mire du Nord
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The Northern Meridian Post
| — | Histoire de Paris | — |
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025
1. The Northern Meridian Post Marker
Dès 1670, l'Académie des Sciences entreprend de mesurer la longueur du méridien de Paris, exprimée en toises et en degrés, de Dunkerque à Barcelone. L'abbé Jean Picard, directeur des travaux entre Paris, et Amiens, fait planter ici le 14 août 1675 une sorte de pilier en bois baptisé le poteau de la méridienne". Repris par les Cassini, ces travaux servent de base à l'établissement d'une carte de France, et le poteau se trouve remplacé par une construction pyramidale en pierre, de trois mètres de haut, surmontée d'une fleur de lys. Une inscription précise; "L'an 1736, cet obélisque a été élevé par ordre du roi, pour servir d'alignement à la méridienne de Paris du côté du Nord. Son axe est à 2,931 toises 2 pieds de la face méridionale de l'Observatoire".
The Northern Meridian Post
As early as 1670, the Academy of Sciences began measuring the length of the Paris meridian, expressed in toises and degrees, from Dunkirk to Barcelona. Abbé Jean Picard, director of the work between Paris and Amiens, had a sort of wooden pillar, dubbed
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Histoire de Paris series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 14, 1675.
Location. 48° 53.217′ N, 2° 20.372′ E. Marker is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in Montmartre. It is at the intersection of Place Jean-Baptiste Clément and Rue Norvins, on the right on Place Jean-Baptiste Clément. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 Place Jean-Baptiste Clément, Paris, Île-de-France 75018, 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: Le Tire-Bouchon Cabaret (a few steps from this marker); La Folie Sandrin (a few steps from this marker); Le Consulat (within shouting distance of this marker); La Bonne Franquette (within shouting distance of this marker); The Republic of Montmartre and Skadarlija - Twinning
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025
2. The Northern Meridian Post Marker - wide view
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . Mire du Nord (Wikipedia, in French). Overview (in translation):
The Northern Meridian Post or Cassini Pyramid is a landmark located in Paris, in the 18th arrondissement.(Submitted on April 22, 2025.)
Additional keywords. panneau
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025
3. The Northern Meridian Post Marker - wider view
This one is easy to miss.
Photographed by Piero (via Wikimedia Commons under CC 3.0 license), September 11, 2011
4. Mire du Nord, west face
The mire is located in a private yard a bit more than 100 meters to the west of the marker location and is not readily accessible.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 22, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
