Fires in the Paris Commune

48°51′27.71″N 2°20′51.78″E / 48.8576972°N 2.3477167°E / 48.8576972; 2.3477167

The fires of Paris during the Paris Commune of 1871 refer to the widespread destruction of public monuments and private buildings in the city, particularly during "Bloody Week" (Semaine sanglante), which took place from 21 to 28 May 1871. This was the period when government forces from Versailles recaptured Paris from the Communards.

Most of the fires were set by members of the Commune, known as Communards or Federates, between 22 and 26 May. Notable buildings damaged or destroyed included the Tuileries Palace, the Palais-Royal, the Palais de Justice, and the Hôtel de Ville. Some landmarks, such as Notre-Dame de Paris, were spared. In addition to symbolic sites, private residences were also set ablaze, often as a defensive measure to hinder the advance of government troops.

The use of fire by the Communards has been interpreted in various ways: as a desperate military tactic, a symbolic act of political defiance, or a form of revolutionary expression. The decision to destroy these buildings was made in the final days of the Commune, when centralized control had largely broken down and many actions were taken on local initiative amidst the chaos of the Commune's collapse.

In the aftermath, the fires became a central element in the contested memory of the Commune. For supporters of the Versailles government, the destruction was cited as evidence of the Communards' alleged savagery, with particular emphasis placed on the role of women, leading to the emergence of the pétroleuses myth—female incendiaries accused of setting fires. The ruins of the destroyed buildings were not immediately rebuilt, and many became subjects of artistic and touristic interest. Numerous photographs captured the extent of the destruction. The loss of archives and official records in the fires also contributed to a significant erosion of historical documentation, leaving gaps in Paris's institutional memory.