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Why is this square in Paris the only one with blue benches?

undefined undefined 20 janvier 2026 undefined 07h30

The Editor

© Clément Dorval / Ville de Paris

Parisian parks, gardens, hills, and other squares are absolutely wonderful places. No matter the season, at the first hint of sunshine, Parisians flock there by the hundreds to soak up some vitamin C, ideally settling down on one of their famous green benches… Well, except in one very specific square in the capital!

In the Parisian landscape, there are a few recognizable elements that truly contribute to making the City of Light what it is. The Morris columns, the Wallace fountains, the Guimard metro entrances, and the green benches—which, unlike their stylish counterparts, don’t have a fancy little name. But we love them all the same, and they are an integral part of the Parisian scenery. Yet, in this park in the 14th, their color might surprise you.


A Colorful Tribute

It’s at the intersection of Boulevard Raspail and Rue Campagne-Première, just a stone's throw from the Montparnasse Cemetery and the Luxembourg Gardens, that you’ll find this one-of-a-kind green space. Although it’s not very large—unlike its nearby neighbors, at least—it stands out thanks to a...

an amazing detail, and it quickly catches the eye : bright blue and deep benches.

A unique blue that is sure to evoke something for art lovers, especially those fond of painting. You see, this park is none other than the Yves-Klein square, and the choice of bench color is a tribute to the man who had the rare honor of having a color named after him: The International Klein Blue, which you can find right here.


An Artistic Neighborhood

The choice of this location to honor Klein, an essential member of the Nouveau Réalisme, is far from random. Indeed, throughout the 20th century, many artists found refuge between Boulevard du Montparnasse and Boulevard Raspail, which runs along the park. Similarly, Rue Campagne-Première has seen its fair share of celebrity visits: Mod...At number 3 is Louis Aragon and Elsa Triolet at number 5. At number 9, you'll find an old artists' enclave that saw the likes of Kandinsky, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Alberto Giacometti, and the writer Rainer Maria Rilke pass through. Many of them stayed at a hotel at number 29, which was also frequented by Marcel Deschamps, Kiki de Montparnasse, and Erik Satie. And Yves Klein was part of the scene too, as the artist had an atelier at number 14!

Address: 241 Raspail Blvd, 75014 Paris, France