Square Honoré-Champion

Welcome to the touristic guide of Square Honoré-Champion, a green space located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. This square is one of the two small squares situated behind the Institut de France, along the beginning of Rue de Seine and accessible through 7 Quai Malaquais and Rue de Seine. Although visible from the street, its perimeter is not open to the public. The closest metro station is Saint-Germain-des-Prés on line   . The square was named after the publisher Honoré Champion as a tribute to his contributions. It was opened in 1947 and covers an area of less than 400 m2. For several decades, it housed a stone statue of Voltaire, commissioned by the French government in 1945 to sculptor Léon-Ernest Drivier. Originally, the statue was meant to be placed nearby on a square bordering Quai Malaquais, replacing a bronze statue of Voltaire by Joseph-Michel Caillé that was removed before being melted down in 1941-1942. However, different opinions delayed the installation of the new artwork, so it was eventually placed in Square Honoré-Champion in 1962, along with a stone bust representing Montesquieu by Félix Lecomte. Since 1992, the location where the Voltaire statue by Caillé used to be has been occupied by La République, a statue by Jean-François Soitoux. In August 2020, the Voltaire statue was removed from Square Honoré-Champion, which sparked outrage among many internet users and historian Hélène Carrère d'Encausse. Although the square is not open to the public, visitors can still admire the beautiful greenery and architecture surrounding it. The Institut de France, a prestigious institution dedicated to the promotion of French culture and language, is a must-see for those interested in history and academia. The nearby Rue de Seine is also worth exploring, as it is home to many art galleries and antique shops. To get to Square Honoré-Champion, take the metro line   to Saint-Germain-des-Prés station and walk towards Quai Malaquais or Rue de Seine. Although the square itself is not accessible, visitors can still enjoy the beauty of this historic area of Paris.

Location: 6th arrondissement of Paris

Inception: 1947

Source: Wikimedia