Place Jussieu, Pedestrian square in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France
Place Jussieu is a triangle-shaped pedestrian square in the Saint-Victor neighborhood of the 5th arrondissement of Paris. It is framed by 19th-century buildings in the neo-Renaissance style, some of which feature carved stone sculptures on their facades.
The square was laid out in 1838 on the site of the old Saint-Victor Abbey, which had been demolished in 1813. It took the name Jussieu in 1867, in honor of the botanist family that left a lasting mark on French natural science.
The name Jussieu comes from a family of botanists who were well known in the 18th century, and that connection to natural science is still felt today with the botanical garden just steps away. Students from the nearby university use the square as a meeting point between classes, giving it a relaxed, everyday rhythm.
The square is easy to reach on foot, as it sits right next to the Jussieu metro station serving lines 7 and 10. Walking around the surrounding streets is the best way to take in the area, since the whole zone is designed for pedestrians.
The carved sculptures on the neo-Renaissance facades around the square were made by the sculptor Adolphe-Paul Giraud in 1842, and they are easy to miss if you walk through without looking up. Giraud produced several of these stone figures for the surrounding buildings within just a few years.
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