Place des Quinconces

La Place des Quinconces , ubicada en Burdeos , Francia , es una de las plazas urbanas más grandes de Europa (aproximadamente 63 acres o 25,6 ha ^{[ 1 ] [ 2 ]} ).

Fue diseñada en 1820 en el emplazamiento del castillo Trompette con el fin de prevenir rebeliones contra la ciudad. Sus cañones apuntaban hacia el centro. Su forma actual (un rectángulo alargado redondeado en semicírculo) se adoptó en 1816. En 1818 se plantaron árboles (en grupos de cinco , de ahí el nombre de la plaza).

Con la instalación de un sistema de tranvías en 2003, el lugar se ha convertido en el centro de transporte público más importante de la zona, con la parada de tranvía de Quinconces que da servicio a tres líneas de tranvía, 21 líneas de autobús (incluidos 3 autobuses nocturnos), un servicio de transporte eléctrico y 12 líneas de autocares que atraviesan la Gironda , además de una zona de recepción en el sur.

Las dos columnas rostrales de 21 metros (69 pies) de altura que dan al río Garona fueron erigidas por Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau en 1829. Una de ellas simboliza el comercio y la otra, la navegación . Las estatuas de mármol blanco de Michel de Montaigne y Charles de Secondat, barón de Montesquieu (obra del escultor Dominique Fortuné Magges), se añadieron en 1858. 

El monumento principal, el Monumento a los Girondinos , de 54 metros de altura , ^{[ 3 ] [ 4 ]} fue erigido entre 1894 y 1902, ^{[ 4 ] [ 5 ]} en memoria de los girondinos que fueron víctimas del Reinado del Terror durante la Revolución Francesa . Tiene un gran pedestal enmarcado por dos pilas, decorado con caballos y tropas de bronce, y coronado por una gran columna con una estatua en la parte superior que representa el espíritu de la libertad rompiendo sus cadenas y sosteniendo la palma de la victoria. ^{[ 6 ] [ 3 ]} Justo debajo de la estatua en cada uno de los 4 lados están la letra "G" de los girondinos, y medias lunas de "Port de la Lune" (Puerto de la Luna) que simbolizan la curva en forma de media luna del río.

Entre las esculturas se encuentran:

• Hacia el gran teatro: triunfo de la República
• Hacia Chartrons: el triunfo del Concorde
• towards the river: the Tribune with the French cockerel; to its right, History, and on its left, the Éloquence (2 seated people).
• towards the Tourny square: the city of Bordeaux sitting on the prow of a ship with a cornucopia. Her scepter signifying the power of maritime trade. To the right of the base: the river Dordogne and to the left the Garonne.

At the feet of the "Triumph of the Republique": Ignorance veiling his face, Lies with his mask, and Vice with his pig ears. The crowned figure riding the chariot represents the Republic. She holds a scepter to symbolize power, military and civil. In her other hand is a globe which used to have three figurines representing Freedom, Equality, and Fraternity. These have disappeared and were said to have been stolen and resold to a rich American collector. On the right are three cherubs: one reading a book, one with a globe, one reciting the alphabet to represent public education. On the left is a lictor, a gunner, and a standard bearer to represent military service. At their feet are a forger holding a hammer and personifying Labor. Next to him, a woman lying down hold a sword to symbolize Security. The lion represents Force. The horses pulling the chariot have fins and tails because in order to spread the values of the Republic, they must be able to travel across land and sea.

At the feet of the Triumph of Concord": A family with the child riding on a sturgeon, representing Happiness. The three children represent the Arts and Sciences. Painting with its palette, Sculpture with its mallet, and Music with its lyre. Music crowns the painting to represent the Neoplatonic theories that the planets are governed by harmony and without it, the planets would collide. Therefore, the universe is a music. Concord holds an olive branch to symbolize Peace. Before her are a worker and a city dweller, hand in hand, to represent social reconciliation. Beside them, the woman sowing flowers is Abundance to show how in the republican harmony, people prosper. Wine trade is shown by the child on a barrel holding the caduceus of Hermes the god of commerce. The other two children count on their fingers to plan a future business. The column was erected by Achille Dumilatre and architect Victor Rich. The pedestal is by Corgolin. Felix Sharpantie and Gustav Debri created the sculpture groups with the latter responsible for the sea horses.^[5][7]

During the 1942 German occupation of France in World War II, the Nazis removed the statues from the fountain to make cannons^[4][3] and destroyed other parts of the monument.^[5] The statues were located two years later in Angers and restored and re-erected in 1983.^[4] The Girondin memorial was ^[5] renovated in 2004^[3] and declared a historical monument on March 16, 2011.^[4][3] The names of deputies to the National Convention executed during the Terror who hailed from the Gironde department were added in 1989.^[8]

Panorama of the Place des Quinconces

• 
  The column by Dumilatre and Rich
• 
  Statue on top of the column
• 
  Sculpture of suffering figures
• 
  Trees of the Place des Quinconces
• 
  Monument aux Girondins, fountain (detail)

• Place de la Concorde
• List of city squares (by size)

• Information on the city's official site(in French)
• Place des Quinconces on a city map, including photos of The Orange(in French)
• (in French)

44°50′44″N0°34′25″W / 44.84556°N 0.57361°W / 44.84556; -0.57361