Darcy square and Guillaume gateway

Darcy square stands at the foot of the Guillaume Gate, one of the twelve gates that surrounded the city in the 12th century. This triumphal arch gate was built in 1786 by the architect Jean-Philibert Maret to create an impression of grandeur and demonstrate the power and importance of the city. Its triumphal shape is also a reminder of the glory of Louis V Joseph de Bourbon-Condé, Condé prince, governor of Burgundy and leader of the Armée des Princes during the French Revolution. Known as the Gate of Liberty by Revolutionaries, at the time it featured engravings depicting extracts from the Declaration of Human Rights. It took on its current name, Porte Guillaume, during the 19th century, in reference to Guillaume de Volpiano, a 10th-century religious reformer. Today, it is at the heart of Darcy square. This square is popular with the people of Dijon because it gives access to the Darcy garden just behind it.