The Square du Temple – Elie Wiesel, opened in 1857 by engineer Jean‑Charles Alphand during Haussmann’s renovation, covers 7,700 m² in the historic Marais. This English‑style botanical garden hosts 71 trees and nearly 200 species—ginkgos, American cedars, Japanese sophoras—earning eco‑garden certification.

Today, this square is an urban oasis: ponds with waterfalls made of Fontainebleau rocks, a 1900 music kiosk, children’s play areas, table‑tennis and petanque benches — ideal for leisure and relaxation . Open daily and free of charge, it operates from 8 am to 9:30 pm in May–August (other months vary).

Originally the site of the Knights Templar's medieval Tower, later a revolutionary prison holding Louis XVI, then a barracks, it embodies Paris’s layered history. Since 2007, a memorial stele lists 85 Jewish children deported from the 3rd arrondissement during the Holocaust. In 2017 it was renamed in honor of Auschwitz survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel.

Atmosphere: family‑friendly, peaceful, intergenerational. Early joggers, mothers with strollers, teenagers at ping‑pong tables, seniors reading under shade, tourists enjoying Parisian life.

Target audience: families, students, local professionals, seniors, nature lovers, history buffs, international visitors.

Fun fact: the waterfall’s rocks come from Fontainebleau, bringing a touch of regional landscape to the park. Its iron gates, crafted by architect Gabriel Davioud, reflect Second Empire urban aesthetics.
Practical info: Metro Temple (Line 3) or Arts & Métiers (Lines 3/11), Vélib station 125 m away, wheelchair‑accessible, smoke‑free, free entry.