Jules Grévy Square

The Jules Grévy Square is lined with a number of beautiful townhouses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Built in 1764, it sits at the heart of Dole, right at the crossroads leading to Dijon, Besançon, Chalon and Geneva. It has borne several names over the course of history: Place Neuve (that is New Square), Revolution Square, Napoleon Square and Pingon Square. In 1893, it was named after Jules Grévy, who served as the fourth President of the Third Republic between 1879 and 1887. It was during his tenure that France declared July 14th its national holiday and the Marseillaise as its national anthem. Talk about iconic! Grévy also introduced social and educational reforms, solidifying the values of the Republic. "And why does this central square in Dole bear his name?” you might ask. Well, it's because this man who left his mark on French history was born in Mont-sous-Vaudrey, a small village just 25 minutes from Dole. There used to be a large statue of him here, installed a few years after his death. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. It was replaced in 2000 by a new sculpture in the center of the square, showing a globe with a boy and a girl seated at the top, representing the Doubs and the Loue rivers that flow through Dole. This artwork adds to the square's charm and makes it one of the most beautiful in the city!