Jean-Jaurès square, Central plaza in Saint-Étienne, France

Jean-Jaurès Square is a tree-planted, flowered square in Saint-Étienne with a water basin, playgrounds, a carousel and a music kiosk designed by Louis Mazerat, rebuilt in 1914 and listed since 1987. Tram lines run across it between Rue du Président-Wilson and Rue Charles-de-Gaulle, and some fourteen streets open onto it. It was laid out in its present form by Jean-Michel Dalgabio in 1813.

Named Place Marengo in 1801 to commemorate Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Marengo, the square took its present form in 1813 under Jean-Michel Dalgabio, built partly on the gardens of the Sainte-Catherine nuns and partly on land ceded by former mayor Hippolyte Royet. It was renamed Place Jean-Jaurès in late 1919, briefly reverted to Marengo at the end of 1944, and has officially borne the name Jean-Jaurès since 1945.

The square is named after Jean Jaurès (1859-1914), the French socialist politician. Locals still often call it place Marengo, its name from 1801 to 1919, and the adjoining garden keeps the name Marengo. The square was briefly renamed Marengo at the end of 1944 before reverting to Jean-Jaurès in 1945.

The square is served by tram lines T1 and T2 and by STAS bus lines 10, 12, 84, S9 and N1. The tram crosses it between rue du Président-Wilson and rue Charles-de-Gaulle, and fourteen streets open onto it, so it can be entered from many sides.

The Condition des Soies is not on the square itself but on rue d'Arcole, a street leading off it. Built by Léon and Marcel Lamaizière and finished in 1910, it handled the technical and regulatory operations of the ribbon trade until 1962; its limestone facade carries Art Nouveau curves with ribbon and mulberry motifs, echoed in the wrought iron of the windows, gate and stair rail.