Puits-Salé Square

Located at the junction of not two, but six streets, Puits-Salé Square is undoubtedly Dieppe’s liveliest and best-known square. Its rather unusual name comes from the well at its centre, which has been there since 1930. Though it looks almost authentic, it is actually a complete fake, replacing the old Puits-Salé fountain, from which water emanated in 1558 from the Saint-Aubin spring, less than a quarter of an hour away. Another, just as important but way more imposing feature of the square is the large white house of the “Café des Tribunaux”.It has occupied the same site since the 18th century. Built in pure Neo-Norman style, with half-timbered walls dating from the 1920s, this building served as a nightclub and meeting place for the town council, before evolving into the café it is today, in the 19th century. During the Belle Époque, the address was a favourite haunt of illustrious members of high society on holiday. These included artists like the British and French painters Walter Sickert and Jacques-Émile Blanche, both of whom immortalised the building. There were also literary figures such as the famous and talented 19th-century Irish writer Oscar Wilde, who left England to take refuge in France after serving a two-year prison sentence for homosexuality. This goes further to show that Dieppe already knew how to be appreciated in the past, and certainly not by just anyone!