Question: Can you imagine a place named after one of the French Revolution’s most controversial figures? That place is Allée Robespierre.
Allée Robespierre is named for Maximilien de Robespierre. He was a lawyer and politician. Robespierre was a key figure in the French Revolution. His legacy remains hotly debated even today.
There isn’t a street or square named Robespierre in Paris. However, many French cities honor him. You will find streets named after him in Arles and Bourges. Calais, Lille, Montpellier and Toulouse also have Robespierre streets.
Interestingly, a place Robespierre existed in Paris from 1946 to 1950. It was the Place du Marché-Saint-Honoré. It was renamed in honor of Robespierre. This was during a period of strong socialist and communist influence. The original name returned in November 1950.
Many towns with communist history have streets named after Robespierre. For example, there is a Robespierre metro station. It provides access to a large Robespierre street in Montreuil. Montreuil was Jacques Duclos’s electoral stronghold. He was a leader in the French Communist Party in the 1950s.
Other Robespierre streets are in Bagnolet and Bezons. Bobigny and Ivry also have streets named for Robespierre. These areas once formed Paris’s “red belt”. Saint-Denis displays a Robespierre bust in Square Robespierre. Marseille has a Place Robespierre. Robespierre’s hometown of Arras named a high school after him.
The Robespierre metro station opened in 1937. It happened with the line’s extension from Porte de Montreuil to Mairie de Montreuil. In 2019, 4,221,091 passengers used the station. This made it the 109th busiest metro station. In 2020, the number dropped to 2,281,953 due to the pandemic. It still ranked 100th busiest. By 2021, numbers rose again. The station saw 2,986,308 passengers.
The station has two entrances. One is on Rue Robespierre. The other is on Rue Barbès. The Rue Barbès entrance features Art Deco style.
Inside, the station follows a standard design. Two platforms surround the tracks. The vault is elliptical. The decor includes white lighting. Beveled white ceramic tiles cover the walls. Honey-colored earthenware frames the advertisements. Red “Motte” style seats provide seating.
So, while Paris itself has been hesitant, numerous other locales embrace Robespierre’s legacy. This is a lasting testament to the revolution’s enduring impact on France.