Thiers Garden

The Thiers Garden in Boulogne-Billancourt sits on land that was once part of a major military defense system. In the nineteenth century, the French government constructed a massive fortification wall around Paris, named after the statesman Adolphe Thiers. This defensive perimeter included a wide, open strip of land known as a glacis, which was kept clear of all buildings and trees to ensure soldiers had a completely unobstructed view of any approaching enemies. The Thiers wall eventually became obsolete and was decommissioned after the first world war, leaving this stretch of former no-man's-land to be transformed. While the surrounding areas were quickly developed, the space occupied by the garden serves as a reminder of the city's former military boundary. Today, this quiet green space provides a sharp contrast to its original purpose as a cleared, strategic buffer zone designed for artillery fire.