What echoes do you hear in this quiet square? This is Square Alexandre Dumas. It is not just a green space in Paris. It is a tribute to a literary dynasty.
Once, this square was informally known as Place des Trois Dumas. This name honored three generations of the Dumas family. These were grandfather, father and son.
The largest monument here honors Alexandre Dumas. He wrote classics like The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. From 1866 to 1870, he lived nearby. His home was less than five hundred meters from his monument. The monument lists some of his best-known books. Many think the three men at his feet are the famous musketeers. This Alexandre Dumas is often called Alexandre Dumas père. This distinguishes him from his son.
Another monument in the square honors Alexandre Dumas fils. He was also a famous novelist and playwright. He lived nearby for thirty-three years. His house was less than nine hundred meters from his monument. This monument shows girls dancing around the author’s chair. Alexandre Dumas the younger is famous for his novel La Dame aux Camélias. It inspired Verdi’s opera La Traviata.
There used to be a third monument here. It depicted General Thomas Alexandre Dumas. He was the father of Alexandre Dumas père. He was also the grandfather of Alexandre Dumas fils. Thomas Alexandre Dumas was born a slave in Haiti. He rose to become a general in the French Revolution. During World War II, the Vichy regime removed his monument. They melted it down to make armaments for the German army.
In 2008, the city of Paris commissioned a replacement. The sculpture is called Fers, meaning irons. It features huge broken chains and irons. These symbolize Thomas Alexandre Dumas’s liberation from slavery.
Place du Général Catroux was created in 1862. It was nicknamed “Place des Trois Dumas”. This celebrated the three statues of the Dumas family. Every year on May 10th, the garden hosts a ceremony. It honors the victims of slavery. This is on the occasion of the National Day of Remembrance of the slave trade, slavery, and its abolition.
Near Square Alexandre Dumas, you can find other points of interest. There is a statue of d’Artagnan. He was the French Musketeer who served Louis XIV. There is also a statue of Sarah Bernhardt. She was a French actress, painter, and sculptor. She had a hotel at the end of the square. Nearby stands the Hôtel Gaillard. It houses the Cité de l’Économie.
At one corner of the square, you’ll find Le Café Dumas. Enjoy a pleasant meal there. Square Alexandre Dumas is served by the Malesherbes Métro station. It is easily walkable from many areas.
Square Alexandre Dumas is more than a square. It’s a place where history, literature, and art converge. Take a moment to reflect on the Dumas legacy. Consider the stories that continue to inspire us today.