“Estienne d’Orves,” a name echoing through Parisian history. This is the story of Place d’Estienne-d’Orves, nestled in the 9th arrondissement. It bridges the Chaussée-d’Antin and Saint-Georges districts.
Initially, this place was not known by its current name. Created around 1860, it was named Place de la Trinité. The square owes its existence to the construction of the Église de la Trinité. The church’s construction also led to significant changes in the area.
The square’s name changed in 1944. It honored Honoré d’Estienne d’Orves. He was a French resistance hero. The Germans shot him at Mont Valérien in 1941.
In 1994, Place d’Estienne-d’Orves expanded. It now included the Square d’Estienne-d’Orves. This was formerly known as Square de la Trinité.
The square is easily accessible. The Trinité – d’Estienne d’Orves metro station is located here. It serves line 12.
Église de la Trinité is a prominent feature. It stands majestically on the square. The square also features the Square d’Estienne-d’Orves.
The square has inspired artists over the years. Pierre-Auguste Renoir captured its beauty in several paintings. His work immortalized the square’s perspectives and buildings.
Buildings at numbers 2 and 8 on the square are historically significant. Since 1977, they have been listed as historical monuments. These buildings add to the square’s architectural charm.
Previously, the Mont-Blanc barracks stood where Place d’Estienne-d’Orves intersects with Rue Saint-Lazare. It was also called Clichy barracks. The French Guards used this as one of their bases.
The building at number 2 is listed as a historical monument. The building at numbers 7-8 is classified similarly.
Before Place d’Estienne-d’Orves came to be, the 9th arrondissement was once marshland. Archaeological digs show that people lived here in prehistoric times.
In the 4th century, clergymen settled here. They used the land for orchards and vegetable gardens. These supplied the city with food until Louis XIII’s reign.
The construction of the Église de la Trinité significantly influenced the area. Baron Haussmann decided to move the church. It was previously located on Rue de Clichy. This move was part of Napoleon III’s transformations of Paris. The church’s location was chosen to create a perspective from Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin.
The church had to be built on an elevated site. This compensated for the slope of Montmartre. The works started in 1861 and finished in 1867. Théodore Ballu was the architect.
Église de la Trinité was designed to be seen from the Opéra de Paris. Despite its luxurious decorations, it was economical. The church cost 3.2 million francs. It stands 90 meters long, 34 meters wide, and 30 meters high. Its bell tower reaches 65 meters.
Funerals for Gioachino Rossini, Hector Berlioz, and Georges Bizet took place here. The Wendel family were notable parishioners.
The parish of the Trinité became the first in France to be entrusted to the Community of Emmanuel in 1986. Jean-Marie Lustiger made this decision to enhance pastoral care.
The church’s clocks have a unique history. They share the same mechanism as those of Notre-Dame de Paris. The Collin-Wagner workshops built both in 1867. The clocks at Église Sainte-Trinité are smaller. Studies of these clocks may help reconstruct Notre-Dame’s clock.
Place d’Estienne-d’Orves is more than a square. It is a place where history, art, and faith converge. It is a testament to Paris’s enduring spirit.