Esplanade Johnny-Hallyday, Public square in Bercy district, Paris, France
Esplanade Johnny-Hallyday is a broad open esplanade in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, in the Bercy district. Its ground is surfaced with small grey cobblestones laid in arcs, bordered by a strip of darker paving and a line of short black bollards. Rows of grey metal barriers stand across the paving, and a wide set of grey stone steps rises in the background toward a modern building complex.
The esplanade was named by a decision of the Paris City Council in February 2020, and its official inauguration took place on 14 September 2021. It honours the singer Johnny Hallyday (1943–2017), whose real name was Jean-Philippe Smet. The date also saw the unveiling of Bertrand Lavier's six-metre sculpture on the esplanade.
The esplanade takes its name from Johnny Hallyday, stage name of Jean-Philippe Smet (1943–2017). Its inauguration on 14 September 2021 coincided with the unveiling of Bertrand Lavier's six-metre sculpture "Quelque chose de…", a title echoing Hallyday's song. The site is a gathering place for fans because the singer performed many times at the adjacent Bercy venue.
The esplanade lies beside Bercy metro station on line 14, in the 12th arrondissement. Its surface is small grey cobblestones laid in arcs, with a strip of darker paving and a line of short black bollards along one edge. Rows of grey metal barriers form fenced corridors across the open ground, and a wide set of grey stone steps rises toward a modern building complex at the far side.
The six-metre sculpture on the esplanade is Bertrand Lavier's "Quelque chose de…", a title echoing Johnny Hallyday's hit "Quelque chose de Tennessee". Its mast is a giant guitar neck topped by a Harley-Davidson that belonged to the singer. It was inaugurated on 14 September 2021, the same day as the esplanade itself.
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