Place Pigalle, Square in Quartier Saint-Georges, Paris, France
Place Pigalle is a small square in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, in the Quartier Saint-Georges, at the foot of the Montmartre hill. It sits at a crossroads where several busy streets meet, surrounded by older buildings housing cafes, bars, and shops.
The square was originally called Place de la Barrière-Montmartre, named after a nearby city gate, before being renamed in the mid-1800s. In 1871, during the Paris Commune, General Clément Thomas was recognized nearby while dressed as a civilian and was shortly after executed.
The square takes its name from Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, a sculptor who lived and worked in the 18th century. The streets around it, especially Rue des Martyrs, are lined with cafes, food shops, and small boutiques that reflect how the neighborhood is used today.
The square is directly accessible from the Pigalle metro station, served by lines 2 and 12. From there, visitors can walk uphill toward Montmartre or head down into the surrounding streets filled with shops and places to eat.
The neighborhood around the square was known to Allied soldiers in the 1940s as Pig Alley, a nickname tied to its nightlife scene at the time. That reputation has since shifted almost entirely, and the area is now better known for its restaurants, cafes, and independent shops.
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