Well back to the lonely period we are cruising thru and decided to look back deep into my blog to update some older posts that needs it. After several years, some of these posts gets very updated and the links fade away. Therefore, here is my updated post on the Jardin des Combattants de la Nueve of Paris!
And this is Paris !!! Updating this post as was in Paris and got to do it a while back, And as it goes there is so much to see here time is not enough! I have passed by this garden several times but never took a picture of it, and it goes on and on of the many places in my belle France that did the same.. However, this is it as walking is sublime and Paris is eternal, walking made me passed by it and voilà this time there is a picture so will tell you about it. The Jardin des Combattants de la Nueve is a special place in Paris , even on a very popular spot it stays an off the beaten path place to visit.
The Jardin des Combattants de la Nueve or Garden of the fighting me of the Nine is a garden located in the 4éme arrondissement in the neighborhood of Saint-Merri. The site is accessible by 2, Place de l’Hotel-de-Ville ; Esplanade of la Liberation. To the right on the Seine river side of the Paris city hall. Covering an area of 1,394 m2, it is composed of a central lawn crossed by gravel paths and surrounded by rosebushes; at its ends are groves of trees. There is also a play area for children enrolled at the City Hall nursery, as well as a henhouse and rabbit cages. An equestrian statue, depicts Étienne Marcel, provost of the merchants of Paris in the 14C and founding figure of the Paris administration. It was inaugurated in 1888.
This garden honors the fighters of the Nueve, or 9th company, unit of shock of the 2nd armored division of General Leclerc, first arrived at the city hall at the Liberation on August 24, 1944. It was mostly composed of Spanish Republicans who continued their fight in France after the victory of Franco in Spain.
A bit of the history of it I like !
Historically called garden of the City Hall, it is a green space backed by the south facade of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris or City Hall, along the quai de l’Hôtel de Ville between the rue de Lobau and the forecourt. It was built on the site of the former rue des Haudriettes. It was formerly the private garden of the prefect of the Seine and the mayor of Paris.
Closed originally to the public, it is now open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 9h to the end of the day, since January 24, 2015. In March of the same year, after deliberation of the Paris Council, the King and Queen of Spain Felipe VI and Letizia and the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo (from Cadiz) ,inaugurated the garden renamed Jardin des Combattants de la Nueve or Garden of the Fighters of the Nueve (nueve is nine in Spanish), to pay tribute to the Spanish Republicans who participated, within La Nueve division in the Liberation of Paris in August 1944, one of them being the first military officer received by the Resistance fighters at the Hôtel de Ville. Due to train accident in Spain, the inauguration ceremony was postponed until June 3, 2015. The City of Madrid inaugurated in April 2017 a garden of the same name. The ceremony was chaired by then Mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena and the current still Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. An official ceremony is held every August 24 in memory of the Nueve in the garden, on the occasion of the celebrations of the Liberation of Paris.
Ok so a bit on the Nueve and who were they , worth remembering at least for history lessons sake. As well as to tell the truth on the Liberation of Paris.
The 9th Company of the March Regiment of Chad, which was itself part of the 2nd Armored Division or Leclerc Division, was nicknamed the Nueve (number nine in Spanish). This company recruited 160 men, including 146 Spanish republicans often anarchists, but also French soldiers, under French command. All had fought during the Liberation of North Africa, then participated in the liberation of France.
Its best known feat is the participation in the liberation of Paris, since the men of the Nueve, preceded by 3 tanks of the 501st RCC, were the first to enter the French capital, the evening of August 24, 1944 with halftracks trucks, bearing the names of city battles of the Spanish Civil War, Teruel, Guadalajara, and Belchite, accompanied by 3 tanks of the 501st RCC, with French city names such as Montmirail, Champaubert and Romilly, and elements of engineering. Most Spaniards joined the Leclerc units. It had 16,000 men, including 2,000 Spaniards at the beginning of 1943. They were particularly numerous in the 1st company, 3rd Battalion and the 9th company, which earned it the name of Nueve or La Española (the Spaniards). The Spaniards of La Nueve as said were 146 when they landed in Normandy, there were only 16 on their arrival at Hitler’s bunker in Berlin.
he city of Paris and the garden or Jardin des Combattants de la Nueve: https://www.paris.fr/equipements/jardin-des-combattants-de-la-nueve-17991
And now you know a bit of history which many people do not know. In fact, when years back Le Figaro newspaper in celebrating the liberation of Paris put up a photo of a blinded vehicule with soldiers on it claiming Leclerc French armored division entering Paris, it was indeed the Nueve of the Spanish republicans who were coming in first! And they asked to be put up first all the way to Berlin!
There you go folks, a dandy of a story and a nice garden in a grand space of my eternal Paris, the Hôtel de Ville. Worth the detour for the true history, you stop by ,and see it , very cosy place nicely done and great statue of Martel. Hope you enjoy the story of the Jardin des Combattants de la Nueve!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 