Square Élisa-Mercœur, Public garden near Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Nantes, France.
Square Élisa-Mercœur is a garden square adjacent to Château des Ducs de Bretagne, featuring a large water mirror installation and a 30-meter wooden dragon sculpture made from acacia wood. The children's play area forms the centerpiece of this green space, positioned between the historic castle and contemporary art installations.
The square developed after World War II on reclaimed embankments along the Loire River and was named in 1968 to honor the local poet. This naming reflected the city's recognition of her contribution to literary history.
The square is named after Nantes poet Élisa Mercœur and serves as a gathering place where people naturally congregate. The art installation 'Un arbre, la forêt' by Éric Fonteneau shapes how visitors experience and interact with the space.
The square provides restrooms, drinking water stations, picnic tables, and two elevators connecting to an underground passage for accessibility. These facilities make it a comfortable destination for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The large water mirror installation of around 1,300 square meters facing the castle creates constantly changing reflective surfaces throughout the day. This ever-shifting effect makes each visit feel different depending on light and weather conditions.
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