Place of Quebec, Pedestrian square in the 6th arrondissement, Paris, France
Place du Québec is a small paved square in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, where Rue Bonaparte, Rue de Rennes, and Boulevard Saint-Germain converge. At its center stands the bronze fountain Embâcle, which depicts breaking river ice; the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is directly visible from here.
The square was officially opened in December 1980 at a ceremony attended by the mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, and the premier of Quebec, René Lévesque. The Embâcle fountain was added in 1984 to mark the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's arrival in Canada.
The square's name refers to the Canadian province of Quebec, and this connection is visible at its center: a bronze fountain called Embâcle, meaning ice jam, represents the spring thaw on the Saint Lawrence River. It was made by a Quebec artist and stands as a permanent reminder of the bond between France and the French-speaking province.
The nearest metro station is Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on line 4, and the square is just a short walk from there. Because it sits at a busy crossing, exploring the surrounding streets is easier during quieter hours of the day.
The square was also conceived to honor François de Montmorency-Laval, the first bishop of Quebec, who was ordained in the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, directly across the street, in 1676. Most visitors cross the square without knowing that the spot links Paris to the very origins of the Catholic Church in Canada.
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