Plaza Francia (France Square), Buenos Aires

France Square (Plaza Francia) stands as a prominent public plaza nestled within the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It's worth noting that the adjacent Plaza Intendente Alvear is often confused with the same name, though erroneously so. This square was conceptualized by the French landscape architect Carlos Thays and is a pivotal component of a collection of interconnected squares, including Plaza Intendente Alvear, Plaza San Martín de Tours, Plaza Juan XXIII, Plaza Ramón J. Cárcano, Plaza Dante, and Plaza Rubén Darío, among others.

The focal point of Plaza Francia is the Monument of France to Argentina, crafted by Émile Peynot and unveiled in 1910. This gift from the French community commemorates the Centennial and takes center stage in the square. The monument's four bronze bas-reliefs vividly capture pivotal moments from the histories of both nations: Argentina's Primera Junta and the Crossing of the Andes, and France's Storming of the Bastille and Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Atop the monument, two female figures embody Argentina and France, guided by an angel personifying Glory. Notably, the monument also bears plaques honoring figures of French origin: Domingo Porteau, a grenadier who met his fate during the Battle of San Lorenzo in the Argentine War of Independence, and the renowned writer Émile Zola. An additional monument within Plaza Francia, dedicated to Louis Braille, was inaugurated in 1977.