Squares

Place Général-Mellinet

Nantes

Place Général-Mellinet is an octagonal square in the Dervallières-Zola district of Nantes, at the center of the Mellinet micro-district. It resulted from an urban development operation that extended Nantes westward and toward the port in the 19th century. The square is connected by eight streets forming four axes, including two main boulevards and two secondary streets. In the center is a circular square with an approximate diameter of 50 meters, surrounded by four groups of five silver linden trees.

The square is bordered by eight mansions listed as historical monuments, each with a park behind the building. Their plans were established in 1827 by architects Étienne Blon and Louis Amouroux, and their symmetrical façades are in the Restoration style. The square also contains a cast-iron statue of General Mellinet, about 3 meters high, created by Laurent Marqueste and erected in 1878 on the site of the former castle after the square’s completion. The stone pedestal bears the inscription: “Général Mellinet - 1798 - 1894.”

Map showing the location of Place Général-Mellinet in Nantes
Location of Place Général-Mellinet in Nantes

Nearby Objects

Layout and Features of Place General-Mellinet

Place General-Mellinet is located in the Dervallieres-Zola district of Nantes and reflects an urban development operation that extended the city westward and toward the port during the 19th century. The square has an octagonal shape and forms the center of the Mellinet micro-district. It is bordered by eight mansions listed as historical monuments, each with a park behind the building. These mansions have identical Restoration style facades arranged symmetrically, and their plans were established in 1827 by the architects Etienne Blon and Louis Amouroux.

The site is connected by eight streets arranged in four axes, including two main boulevards and two secondary streets. Clockwise from the north, these are boulevard Paul-Langevin, rue de Belleville, boulevard de Launay, rue Rollin, boulevard Saint-Aignan, rue Mellier, boulevard Allard, and rue Richer. At the center is a circular square with an approximate diameter of 50 meters, surrounded by four groups of five silver linden trees each. The square also contains a cast iron statue of General Mellinet, about 3 meters high, created by Laurent Marqueste. It was erected in 1878 on the site of the former castle after the square's completion, and its stone pedestal bears the inscription:

History of Place General-Mellinet

Place General-Mellinet was built on the site of the former Chateau de Launay-Godetiere and its park. The site had earlier hosted notable visitors: the Chateau de Launay-Godetiere received the Ambassadors of Siam in 1686, and the Comte d'Artois received the Emperor of Austria there in 1777. The property was later bought from the Bertrand de Saint-Pern family by the Allard brothers and Michel Vauloup, who demolished the chateau in 1826. This demolition was carried out in order to support a large real estate speculation operation. The construction of the hotels particuliers on the site then took place between 1828 and 1874.