Place Verte
The Place Verte (Square Paul Gosset)
The museum’s open-air backyard, a historic bandstand, and the towering monument to wartime resilience
Tucked directly behind the grand Beaux-Arts Museum, the green, leafy expanse known historically as part of the Place Verte (and officially named Square Paul Gosset) is one of the most charming spots in Valenciennes. Functioning as a beautiful extension of the museum's indoor galleries, this pocket park seamlessly blends natural shade with public art. It is the perfect place to sit back, breathe in the fresh air, and admire two historic structures that define its character: its picturesque musical kiosk and its towering Victory Monument.
You can locate this artistic green space directly via the Google Maps Square Paul Gosset Navigation Guide.
The History: From Fortified Walls to Cultural Haven
Like many of the grand open spaces along the outer ring of Valenciennes, this beautiful square was born out of military disassembly:
The Vanished Ramparts: Until the late 19th century, this exact area was covered by the massive stone fortifications engineered by Vauban. When the town permanently pulled down its defensive walls in the 1890s to modernise the city, it suddenly gained huge swathes of open land.
The Beaux-Arts Extension: Part of this cleared frontier was used to construct the majestic Musée des Beaux-Arts, designed by Paul Dusart and inaugurated in 1909. The open clearing left right behind its back entrance was consciously transformed into a green garden square designed to give the surrounding bourgeois neighborhoods a sophisticated place to gather.
The Centerpiece: Le Kiosque à Musique
The visual anchor of the park’s central lawn is its beautifully preserved, traditional kiosque à musique (wrought-iron bandstand).
Dating back to the golden age of public city parks, this elegant structure features an elevated octagonal platform wrapped in decorative iron railings and supported by slender metal pillars. Historically, it served as the venue for weekend brass band concerts and civic gatherings. Today, it remains a beloved local community hub—functioning as a meeting point for specialized cultural city tours and even hosting a cozy local artisanal chocolate and refreshment spot beneath its canopy.
The Victory Monument: La Colonne de la Défense de 1793
Standing tall over the square is its most dramatic historical statement: a massive, monumental victory column officially known as Le Monument à la Défense de 1793 (The Defense of 1793 Monument).
The Historic Event: The monument commemorates the legendary, heroic siege of 1793, when the garrison and citizens of Valenciennes fiercely defended their city against an overwhelming coalition of Austrian and British forces during the French Revolutionary Wars.
The Artistry: Created by the highly celebrated Valenciennes statuary artist Gustave Crauk, the monument features a tall stone column topped by a striking, triumphant allegorical statue representing Victory and the stubborn resilience of the townspeople. It serves as a proud reminder of the city's long history of standing firm in the face of conflict.
Planning Your Visit
Access: The square is fully public, free of charge, and directly connects the back paths of the Musée des Beaux-Arts to the wider promenades of Boulevard Watteau.
Best Time to Visit: Right after exploring the masterpieces inside the museum. Grabbing a warm drink or an artisanal chocolate near the kiosk and sitting on a bench in the shadow of the victory statue is a time-tested Valenciennes tradition.