Place de la Liberté in Poitiers

Square in Poitiers

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Daniel Proux

Place de la Liberté in Poitiers is a historic square with a fascinating past. Originally known as Place du Pilori, it was established in the 12th century as the site of the Marché Neuf, a bustling marketplace. By 1307, it became a place of public punishment, where criminals were exposed to the crowd as a warning. During the Hundred Years’ War, the area suffered destruction when the English captured Poitiers in 1346, leading to its economic decline.

During the French Revolution, the square became infamous as the location of the guillotine, where executions continued even after the fall of Robespierre. One of the most notable figures executed here was General Jean-Baptiste Berton, a Napoleonic officer who conspired against Louis XVIII. On October 5, 1822, he was guillotined, shouting “Vive la Liberté!”—a phrase that later inspired the square’s renaming in 1900.

In 1903, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, modeled after Auguste Bartholdi’s original, was erected in the square. This statue was funded by Freemasons, symbolizing the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The base of the statue bears inscriptions referencing the French Revolution and the values of democracy, reinforcing its significance as a monument to freedom.

Today, Place de la Liberté is part of Poitiers’ protected heritage zone, benefiting from restoration efforts to preserve its architectural and historical importance. The square remains a central gathering place, reflecting the city’s evolution from a medieval marketplace to a symbol of political and social change.

The Place de la Liberté in Poitiers appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Poitiers!

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