Place Aristide Briand, Square in Reims, France
Place Aristide-Briand is a small, round square in the center of Reims, France. It is paved with stone, lined with a few benches, and bordered by early 20th-century buildings, including the Hôtel Godbert on the northeast corner, built in 1924 in an art deco style.
This spot was once the site of the Cérès city gate, part of the ancient Roman walls that once protected Reims. After the First World War, during which the square suffered damage from bombing, the area was rebuilt and given new purpose with the inauguration of the monument in 1924.
The monument at the center of the square was inaugurated in 1924 to honor nurses who cared for wounded soldiers during the First World War. It was funded through an international collection, which makes it stand apart from most war memorials in French cities.
The square sits in the center of Reims and is easy to reach on foot from most of the city's main sites. The sidewalks are wide and flat, making it accessible for visitors with limited mobility as well.
In 1901, a temporary triumphal arch was built on the square to mark the visit of the Russian Tsar to Reims. The arch no longer exists, but postcards from that era still show what the square looked like on that occasion.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
