Claude-Charpentier Square

Claude Charpentier Square sits at the crest of the Montmartre hill. It occupies the site of the former Mont-Cenis Square, taking its current name from the architect and urban planner who lived from 1909 to 1995. Charpentier dedicated his career to protecting the historic character of Paris, specifically fighting to save the architecture of Montmartre and the Marais from modern redevelopment. The square surrounds the Montmartre water tower, known as the Chateau d'Eau. Built in 1835, this Neoclassical structure replaced a former hunting lodge that once belonged to Catherine de Medici. It was originally designed to pump water from the Seine River all the way up the hill to supply the surrounding neighborhood. While the pump was decommissioned in 1927, the building remains a prominent landmark, and the surrounding green space serves as a quiet vantage point at the summit of the district.