Passage du Colonel Fabien

“A scaffold, can you imagine such a thing in the heart of Paris?” The Passage du Colonel Fabien, tucked away in the city’s embrace, has a surprisingly grim past. Before it bore this name, honoring the French Resistance hero Pierre Georges, this area near present-day Place du Colonel Fabien was a site of public execution. Just a short distance away stood the Gibet de Montfaucon, a towering structure where the bodies of condemned criminals were displayed as a gruesome warning. Thousands met their end here, their remains left hanging for days, visible from the city center. Imagine the macabre spectacle, a stark contrast to the vibrant life of Paris. The Place du Colonel Fabien later transformed into the “Place du Combat” hosting a different kind of spectacle. An arena where Parisians gathered to watch animal fights. Dogs pitted against bulls, bears, boars, and other creatures, a brutal form of entertainment that continued until the late 19th century. Finally, in 1945, the square received its current name, commemorating Colonel Fabien. The French Communist Party headquarters, a striking modern building designed by Oscar Niemeyer, now dominates the Place du Colonel Fabien. This architectural marvel stands as a symbol of the area’s transformation, a testament to the passage of time and the changing face of this unique corner of Paris. From gallows to gladiatorial contests, the Passage du Colonel Fabien whispers tales of a past both dark and captivating.