Audio GuideSquare Louvois
Tall trees & grand buildings frame this 19th-century square, with benches around a classic fountain.
Park
Paris, France
Square Louvois is a small, historically rich green space in the second arrondissement of Paris, located in the famed Vivienne quarter. It takes its name from the former Hôtel de Louvois, once owned by the influential Marquis de Louvois. The area has seen many transformations over the years. In earlier times, the site hosted Paris’s opera house during the latter part of the eighteenth century into the early nineteenth century, and it bore witness to the tragic assassination of the Duke of Berry.
During the reign of Napoleon III, plans changed from replacing the opera with a chapel to transforming the area into a beautiful, landscaped square. Architect Gabriel Davioud and engineer Adolphe Alphand were key figures in this redevelopment, and the square was officially inaugurated about a century and a half ago.
At the very center of Square Louvois stands the Fontaine Louvois. This classic fountain features allegorical sculptures representing four major French rivers: the Seine, the Garonne, the Loire, and the Saône. Each sculpture symbolizes the flow of these rivers, capturing an important aspect of the country’s natural heritage.
The square today also carries modern commemorative touches. Its alleys have been renamed to honor local resistance figures, and a glass memorial plaque pays tribute to young children from the area who lost their lives during the Nazi occupation. Surrounded by tall trees and grand buildings, and bordered by Rue de Louvois, Rue de Richelieu, Rue Rameau, and Rue Lulli, this charming space offers visitors a blend of history and peaceful beauty.
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