Find the Statue of Henri IV
by hquittner
The statue of the "Gay Old Blade" (Le Vert Galant) stands upon a bastion of the Pont Neuf above the square of the same name that extends to the West tip of the Ile (see our Batobus Travelogs). To the East are the buildings of the Place Dauphin entered by the arch at the center. The equestrian statue of Henri is an 1818 replacement copy of the original which was destroyed during the Revlution in 1792. Behind and below the statue is the Square Vert-Galant , a small park which extends to the western tip of the Ile de la Cite. We have never gone down but have seen it from boats on the Seine as these pictures show.
Why Is Louis XIII Here on a Horse? (Pt2)
by hquittner
Henri IV successfully started his real estate ventures here by creating the Place Royale (given its present name in 1800) as the first public square in Paris. He used the royal properties of the destroyed Hotel des Tournelles. He followed this quickly with another at the Western end of the Ile de la Cite above the just completed Pont Neuf which location he called the Place Dauphin (for his son). Both were to be built of red brick, stone and slate. He had a bronze statue placed at the latter site (le Vert-Galant) of himself on a horse. He was assassinated before the Place Royale was completed and so his young son,the ex-dauphin Louis XIII completed the job and dedicated it with his own statue. The statue was melted down for the metal. A new one was erected in 1819 done by Cortot and Dupaty. There are relaxing fountains within the west segment of the square and several tall trees that obscure the beautiful near symmetry. On the left along the South side at 6 (numbers start at the south with even numbers to the east) is the home of Victor Hugo now a museum (fee). (We have never visited it but a good view of the Place is obtained from the upper floor).
Gardens of Paris : Square du Vert-Galant
by Klod5
Un petit square à hauteur de la Seine*. Il offre un des plus beaux panoramas sur le fleuve, là encore à l'abri de la circulation. Le niveau de la pointe du Vert-Galant montre l'ancien niveau de l'Île de la Cité.
En 1765 les berges arborées de saules et de tilleuls étaient occupées par un établissement de bains. En 1823 sa vogue était si grande qu'il abritait plus de 200 baignoires. En 1836 il devint la propriété de la Société des Trois Bains.
Un café-concert fut fondé en 1865 sur le Vert-Galant.
De nos jours, rive gauche : pour y accéder, descendez les escaliers du Pont Neuf, ou dirigez vous vers les vedettes du Pont Neuf.
The level of the tip of the Vert-Galant square watch the former level of the island of the City.
In 1765 the banks raised of willows and limes were occupied by an establishment of baths. In 1823 its vogue was so big that it sheltered more than 200 tubs. In 1836 it became the property of the Society of the Three Baths.
A coffee - concert was founded in 1865 on the Green Elegant.
Nowadays, left strand: the pier of the boats of the Pont-Neuf
Photos
Henri IV (Le Vert-Galant)
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