Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is one of the most beautiful squares of the world. It's located between rue de Castiglione and rue de la Paix and is one of the most famous squares in Paris. It testifies to the splendour of the French classic art under the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV. Its octagonal plan was drawn by Jules Hardouin Mansart, the architect of the Chateau of Versailles. It was built between 1685 and 1699 on the site of the hotel of the duke of Vendôme, a son of king Henri IV and his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées, between a convent which sealed off the future rue de la Paix until 1804 and the Tuileries Garden.
Today, the role of the place has been changed: it does not shelter anymore than ten private individuals. The square is now occupied by offices and shops of luxury. The largest companies, houses of luxury and billionaires had for a long time spent fortunes to be able to be located here.The place is now also surrounded by jewellers, prestigious banks and the emblems of French elegance still cluster around the Austerlitz column that Napoleon erected. Labels of luxury such as Chaumet, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier...
The Place Vendôme was originally named the Square Of Conquests; it then was called the Place Louis-le-Grand, and it became the Place des Piques during the Revolution. Its current name comes from the Hôtel Vendôme, torn down in order ot build the square. The emperor Napoleon modified the district of the square and shaped it to the form it is today. He decided in 1804 to raise in the centre of the square a column, like the Trajane column in Rome. Under the orders of Vivant Denon, 1200 guns taken from enemy during the battle of Austerlitz were molten. The bronze plank which celebrates the great victories of Napoleon’s army, since the camp of Boulogne until Austerlitz, rises in spiral around a stone reinforcement. A statue of Napoleon dressed as a Roman sculpted by Antoine-Denis Chaudet was placed in top.
The Column was torn down in 1871, during the Commune revolution. It was later restored and a replica of the original statue of Napoleon was replaced at the top.
Address
Place Vendôme Paris
How to get there ?
Metro line 3, 7 ou 8 : Opera
RER A : Auber