“Paris’ Portal to Hell” once stood here. Not this exact spot, but nearby. Welcome to Place du Châtelet. This square sits where the Grand Châtelet fortress once loomed.
Imagine dark stone walls. Picture imposing towers. The Grand Châtelet was a testament to Paris’ turbulent past. It reflected the city’s thirst for justice. Brutal justice.
The Grand Châtelet’s origins are mysterious. Some say Julius Caesar envisioned it as a defense tower for Lutèce. More likely, Charles the Bald ordered fortresses along the Seine in 877 AD. This was to shield Paris from Viking invasions. By 886, the fortresses, including the Grand Châtelet, were vital. The Châtelet was a key gate against threats.
Over time, the Grand Châtelet became a symbol of royal power. Its dungeons became synonymous with horror. Death was often a mercy. The “Chausse d’hypocras” or the “Fosse” was a notorious cell. Prisoners were lowered into a watery pit. Their feet were always submerged. Life expectancy there was fifteen days.
The Grand Châtelet housed Paris’ first morgue. Guards scrutinized inmates’ faces. This was to identify them if they escaped. The city’s dead were displayed here. Corpses found on the streets were brought here for identification. Nuns washed these bodies. They gave them proper burials in the Cemetery of the Innocents.
By the late 18th century, people called to demolish the prison. Conditions were deplorable. The Revolution hastened its downfall. In 1792, rioters stormed the gates. They massacred prisoners. A decade later, demolition began in 1802. This erased a dark chapter from Paris.
Emperor Napoleon wanted a modern city. He wanted to move beyond memories of the monarchy and revolution. The new Place du Châtelet improved traffic flow. A fountain provided drinking water.
The Fontaine du Palmier was designed in 1806. It commemorates Napoleon’s victories. Gabriel Davioud created the lower basin. Louis-Simon Jacquemart sculpted the sphinxes. They commemorate Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. Jacquemart also sculpted allegorical statues. They symbolize Faith, Strength, Law, and Vigilance.
The Fontaine du Palmier has sculpted palm leaves. A statue of Victory tops the shaft. The statue is a replica. The original is in the Carnavalet Museum.
Haussmann enlarged Place du Châtelet in the 1860s. He altered the fountain. It is now a listed Historical Monument.
Gabriel Davioud also built the two theaters. They frame Place du Châtelet. The Théâtre du Châtelet opened in 1862. Its facade features statues. They represent Drama, Music, Dance, and Comedy. The theater offers various shows.
The Théâtre de la Ville is dedicated to contemporary dance. It was formerly the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt.
Today, Parisians enjoy Place du Châtelet. Few realize what once stood here. The Grand Châtelet reminds us of a Paris long gone. Justice and cruelty walked hand in hand.