Square du Vert-Galant, Urban park at western tip of Île de la Cité, Paris, France
The Square du Vert-Galant forms a triangular green space with chestnut trees, yew trees, and weeping willows at the western tip of Île de la Cité. The area sits at water level and provides a flat, tree-shaded surface with views of both banks of the Seine.
The park came into being in 1884 through the joining of two smaller islands, after earlier establishments like a music café had been swept away by flooding. The name recalls King Henry IV, who ruled in the early 17th century.
The name comes from Henry IV, nicknamed Vert-Galant for his many mistresses despite his age; his bronze equestrian statue on the Pont Neuf overlooks the square. A plaque at the entrance recalls Jacques de Molay, burned here in 1314. In the early 1950s Guy Debord and the Lettrist International held their regular gatherings on the strip.
The park is open daily and can be reached from the Pont Neuf Metro station or by walking along the bridge, then descending steps to water level. The best time to visit is during sunny afternoons, when the light over the river feels particularly warm.
The square occupies land once formed by the Île aux Juifs, where Jacques de Molay, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake on 18 March 1314, together with Geoffroi de Charney. A plaque at the entrance records the execution.
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