What echoes within the Place du 18-Juin-1940? This isn’t just a square. It is a place that remembers a pivotal moment in French history.
The Place du 18-Juin-1940 sits where the 6th and 15th arrondissements meet. It serves as a crossroads where the rue de Rennes joins the boulevard du Montparnasse. Metro lines 4, 6, 12, and 13 converge beneath our feet at the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe station.
Once, this space was simply known as the Place de Rennes. Around 1880, changes came with the construction of the old Gare Montparnasse. In 1951, the square received a new name: Place du 18-Juin-1940.
This name commemorates General de Gaulle’s call to the French people. His appeal was made on June 18, 1940. It urged resistance against the Nazi occupation. The square serves as a daily reminder of courage.
Look around you. The Bretagne cinema stands nearby. The Tour Montparnasse complex rises impressively. This includes the CIT building and the Tour Express. They replaced the old Gare Montparnasse.
You might notice the Wallace fountain. It provides refreshing water. A plaque at number 3 honors Georges Paulin. He was a member of the resistance.
The Place du 18-Juin-1940 has seen many changes. It has evolved from a simple square into a landmark of remembrance. The square stands as a testament to history and resilience. It connects the past with the present.