Square Laurent-Prache, Urban park in 6th arrondissement, Paris, France.
Square Laurent-Prache is a small green space in the 6th arrondissement featuring several types of trees and flowering shrubs that provide color throughout the seasons. The site displays architectural remnants and is framed by historic buildings of the neighborhood.
The square was created in 1901 on a vacant lot opened by the extension of Rue de Rennes toward Quai de Conti, a project declared of public utility in 1866 after the demolition of 15-17 Rue de l'Abbaye. The site adjoins the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the square preserves stone piles and arcades from the chapel of the Virgin of the former abbey, along with fragments of its lost cloister.
The square is named after Laurent Prache (1856–1919), a French deputy known for his anti-Masonic views; a medallion and engraved plaque honour him, made by Hérain in 1935. A bronze bust of Dora Maar, given to the City of Paris by Picasso in 1959 in tribute to his friend Guillaume Apollinaire, stands in the garden.
Enter at no. 1, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, beside the church; the square is step-free and open to people with reduced mobility. Métro line 4 stops at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and RATP buses 39, 63, 70, 86, 87, 95 and 96 also serve the area. The lawn, benches and inner fence sit close to the stone bust and columns, so the space is compact to walk through.
Along the edges of the square, visitors can discover actual stone blocks and column fragments that survive from a former medieval monastery. These hidden remnants tell the story of the site before it became a modern park.
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