Just behind the Institut de France, not far from the Pont des Arts, sits a small square tucked away by the imposing building, hiding a few curiosities. Among them, the unusual shape of two of its benches, amid a dozen that are perfectly ordinary! To the point that if you’re a bit tired or not very observant, you could easily miss them! Made of limestone, they resemble ornate open books, with feet shaped like closed books.
But why are they placed there? Simply because the 6th arrondissement is famed as a quintessential literary district, much like the Latin Quarter, with cafes and restaurants where Paris’s greatest writers and artists mingled in the mid-20th century. Not to mention that the Institut de France is literally just around the corner, a true temple of knowledge, which houses the prestigious Mazarine Library.
When the season arrives, you can see a line of stunning Japanese cherry trees in full bloom, still shedding pink petals onto the ground and into the adjacent street in April. The square Gabriel Pierné, laid out in 1938 and renamed in 1969 to honor the conductor, also houses a fountain from the Carmes Market dating to 1830 that depicts the allegorical faces of Commerce and Abundance and Carolina (1968), a bronze sculpture by Marcello Tommasi.
Gabriel Pierné Square and its sublime cherry blossoms
In the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Square Gabriel Pierné is the place to be in spring. In April, cherry blossom lights up this buccolic spot where you can relax. This little corner of paradise, hidden behind the Institut de France, becomes the scene of a fascinating, ephemeral nature, a must-see. [Read more]
Gabriel Pierné Square and its sublime cherry blossoms
