Robinier du Square Viviani, Black locust tree in Latin Quarter, France
The Robinier du Square Viviani is a black locust tree located in a small plaza next to Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre Church in the Latin Quarter. A protective circular bench surrounds its trunk, and metal supports and concrete structures help reinforce the ancient tree against decay.
Jean Robin, the royal gardener, planted this tree in 1601 using seeds brought from colonial territories in North America. This act launched one of the first successful introductions of American plant species to European gardens and city spaces.
This tree represents how Paris embraced new plants from across the Atlantic and made them part of the city's green spaces. Walking around it near the old church, you can sense how this single plant became a symbol of connection between two continents.
The tree is located on a public plaza that is open and accessible at all times for visitors. The protective structures around the trunk allow you to view the tree from different angles while maintaining safe distance from the aging wood.
Despite reaching over 400 years of age and surviving bomb damage during World War I, the tree continues to produce flowers every spring. This resilience makes it one of Europe's most remarkable examples of botanical endurance in an urban setting.
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