Find this object on the 18th arrondissement Walk 2 – Château Rouge

Georges Giriel
(CHANSONNIER)
14 Rue Lécuyer, 75018 Paris, France

Chansonnier, humourist, author and songwriter Georges Giriel was the Mayor of the Commune Libre de la Butte-Montmartre, a spin-off of the famous Commune Libre de Montmartre. Formed in 1921, the original Commune Libre was a parody association formed to maintain the village spirit of the district, raising funds for various local causes. Giriel, a popular touring entertainer, formed his own charity, Chanson au Sanatorium in 1923, for which he was awarded the Légion d’honneur. The charity organised weekly free concerts for patients undergoing treatment in sanatoriums across France. In 1932 he began his tenure as the mayor of the Free Commune of Butte Montmartre, a position he held for more than 20 years. Giriel was dedicated to the poulbots (street urchins) and elderly of Montmartre, even erecting the annual Christmas tree at the Moulin Rouge for their pleasure.

Poulbot, meaning ragamuffin or street urchin. Derived from the artist Francisque Poulbot who was known for his drawings of Paris street children, and for opening a dispensary on Rue Lepic to help needy children of Montmartre.