Sites of Memory: The Destruction of Public Buildings During the Paris Commune of 1871

Authors

Julie C. Nay, Brigham Young University
Dr. Daryle Lee, Brigham Young University

Keywords

memory, public buildings, Paris Commune, 1871

College

Humanities

Department

French and Italian

Abstract

In March 1871, in response to the brutal Prussian siege of the city, a humiliating peace treaty with the Germans, and an attempt by the national government to deprive Paris of her cannons, the Central Committee of the National Guard declared Paris independent of the national government and installed itself in the Hôtel de Ville. The Commune de Paris was born. For seventy-two days the Commune held sway over Paris, occupying important public buildings. During the final week of the Commune, called the “Bloody Week” of 21-28 May, many of these buildings were destroyed in the struggle between the Communards and the French forces. The ruins of the most significant of these buildings were not razed for several years, creating the unnatural spectacle of an acropolis in the centre ville of post-Haussmanian Paris.

Recommended Citation

Nay, Julie C. and Lee, Dr. Daryle (2013) "Sites of Memory: The Destruction of Public Buildings During the Paris Commune of 1871," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 767.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/767