Île à la Gourdaine

[17][11] In the medieval period the island was a haunt of night-time prostitutes who plied their trade beneath the willow trees.

[16][12][19] In 1607 king Henry IV granted the area within the new quays to fr: Achille de Harlay, giving him responsibility for developing it according to a masterplan that provided for streets and houses.

The Place du Dauphin and the streets west of the Rue de Harlay were part of this development.

[16][12] A plinth was built on part of the Île à la Gourdine, and an equestrian statue of Henry IV was mounted on top of it.

The western extremity of the island was incorporated into an extended spit of low-lying land that was originally built on but later became the Square du Vert-Galant.