Did Pierre Degeyter ever imagine his name would grace a square in Saint-Denis? Here we stand in Place du Square Pierre de Geyter, a green oasis amidst the urban bustle. Place du Square Pierre de Geyter wasn’t always known by this name. Originally, in 1877, it was called Square Thiers, after Adolphe Thiers, the first president of the French Third Republic. Remnants of this old name linger in the nearby Impasse Thiers and Place Thiers, leading to Rue Ambroise-Croizat. In 1891, the square was briefly renamed Square des Gaules. It finally received its current name, Place du Square Pierre de Geyter, in 1933, honoring the Belgian composer of “The Internationale.” Imagine the square back in 1890. A bronze statue of Vercingetorix, crafted by Jules Bertin, stood proudly. This statue was a replica of the monument to Ambiorix in Tongres, Belgium. Sadly, during World War II, the Vichy regime decreed the mobilization of non-ferrous metals. Between 1942 and 1944, Vercingetorix’s likeness was melted down for the war effort. The square also once boasted a bandstand, a common feature in public spaces of that era, filling the air with music. Today, Place du Square Pierre de Geyter serves the community with children’s play areas and a boules court. It’s a place where residents and visitors can relax, play, and enjoy a moment of peace in the heart of Saint-Denis. The square’s journey from Square Thiers to Place du Square Pierre de Geyter reflects the changing tides of history and the enduring power of music and community.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to