Have you ever wondered why this square is called Place Gaspard Monge? Today, it is a bustling little spot in the Latin Quarter. It’s lined with cafes and restaurants, a perfect stop to enjoy a leisurely lunch or a late-night glass of wine. But Place Gaspard Monge’s namesake was far from a Parisian cafe proprietor. Gaspard Monge was a French mathematician who lived from 1746 to 1818. Monge was a pioneer, best known for his invention of descriptive geometry, the mathematical foundation of technical drawing. You can see his mark, so to speak, on every building in this city – they were all designed using Monge’s principles.
In the 1780s, his work got the attention of Napoleon. The story goes that Monge was summoned to see Bonaparte who needed a secret project explained. Monge reportedly used descriptive geometry to make a 3D model of a fortress, which impressed and perhaps slightly terrified Bonaparte. Maybe that is why Monge joined Napoleon’s Egyptian Expedition. But, despite his genius and success, Monge was a man of his time. He was politically involved and aligned with the French Revolution. You might even be surprised to learn that he was the Minister of the Marine in 1792. This was during an intense period of political and societal change, and as you stand in this square you can almost imagine the tension and excitement.
Now, let’s take a stroll further on our tour.