Place Louis Lépine, Pedestrian square on the Île de la Cité, Paris, France
Place Louis Lépine is a long, narrow square on the Île de la Cité, the historic island at the center of Paris in the 4th arrondissement. It is bordered by the Rue de la Cité, the Rue de Lutèce, and the Quai de la Corse, and is set up as a pedestrian zone open to foot traffic.
The Île de la Cité is the oldest settled part of Paris, and the square developed in an area shaped for centuries by public institutions. In 1934, it was officially named after Louis Lépine, who served as Paris police prefect in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The square is home to the Marché aux fleurs Reine-Elizabeth-II, a flower and bird market that takes place here on a regular basis. On market days, the space fills with rows of plants, pots, and caged birds, drawing in locals and visitors who come to browse or simply watch.
The square sits in the heart of the Île de la Cité and is easy to reach on foot from Notre-Dame Cathedral or the Palais de Justice. The entrance to the Cité metro station is located directly on the square, making it simple to arrive or leave by public transport.
Even though the square is named after a police prefect, the Paris police headquarters today occupies a neighboring building that was originally built in the 1860s as a barracks for the Garde républicaine. The link between the square's name and the building next door is no coincidence.
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