Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The square Saint-Lambert is a green space in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, located between the streets Jean-Formigé, Théophraste-Renaudot, Doctor-Jacquemaire-Clemenceau and Léon-Lhermitte. It occupies the site of a former Vaugirard gas plant, active from 1835 to 1927, where Gaston Tissandier's balloon escape took place in 1870. This industrial site, disused in 1927, was converted into a public garden in the 1930s, reflecting the hygienist ideas of the time and the desire to create airy spaces in densely urbanized neighbourhoods.

The square was designed by architect Georges Sébille between 1930 and 1933, in a late Art Deco style characteristic of the 1930s, surrounded by residential buildings of the same period. It became an emblematic place of local life, marked in 1959 by the media emergence of "black jackets", after clashes between teenage gangs reported by France-Soir. The square, registered with historical monuments in 1997 and labeled Heritage of the 20th century, now combines playful facilities (theatre of Guignol, ride, basin), works of art (sculptures by Victor Peter and René Paris) and a diverse vegetation.

The origin of his name pays tribute to the church of Saint-Lambert de Vaugirard, which is dedicated to Lambert de Maastricht (636-705), the French bishop. The square, which is very popular thanks to its proximity to Camille-Sée High School and its surrounding houses, has also served as a setting for cinematographic works such as L.627 (1992) or the Short Series (Canal+). Its layout reflects a double ambition: to preserve the industrial memory of the neighborhood while providing a modern living environment for Parisians.

The square facilities include playgrounds, table tennis tables, public Wi-Fi, and accessible areas (banks, terraces), although accessibility for people with reduced mobility remains partial. Among its peculiarities are various tree species (poplars, acacias, cedars, Griffith pine) and sculptures such as Two Bears (1928) by Victor Peter or Dog-loup by René Paris. The square thus illustrates the transition between the industrial era and 20th century urban policies, combining heritage, culture and social life.

External links