Place Vendôme

A handsome square in the heart of Paris, Place Vendôme has long been synonymous with luxury. Renowned for its beautiful architecture and collection of fine fashion and jewelry shops, the origins of Place Vendôme date back to the start of the 18th century, when the architect responsible for the Palace of Versailles bought the site as part of a real estate venture. These plans fell through and the land ended up in the hands of King Louis XIV, who decided to develop it into a public square. Place Vendôme is situated just north of the Jardin des Tuileries in the 1st arrondissement and was designed to rival the Place des Vosges in the Marais district. Surrounded by a series of beautiful hôtel particuliers (grand townhomes), the square has survived intact through the numerous reigns and revolutions of French history.

Visiting

Place Vendôme sits just two blocks north of the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries. The closest metro station to the square is in fact Tuileries - just follow Rue de Rivoli and take a right at Rue de Castiglione. From here you will have a clear view of Vendôme Column, the centerpiece of the square. Forming an octagon around Place Vendôme is a series of hôtel particuliers. These grand townhomes almost all feature matching facades and were built as fashionable residences for the wealthy. While some are still used as private residences, Place Vendôme is now primarily home to luxury hotels, shops and offices. The French Ministry of Justice is headquartered here, along with the five-star Ritz Paris and Hôtel de Vendôme.

Vendôme Column
Napoleon I may have only been the Emperor of France for 10 years, but he certainly left his mark on Paris. The Vendôme Column at the center of Place Vendôme is just one of his many lasting legacies in the City of Light. The column was modeled after Trajan’s Column in Rome and erected in 1810 to celebrate Napoleon’s famous victory at Austerlitz. Forged out of bronze from cannons seized in France’s various battles across Europe, the column features 425 separate plates assembled in a spiral pattern. Sitting atop the column is a statue of Napoleon dressed in the style of a Roman Emperor. While the spiral bronze column is original, the statue of Napoleon is a replica. The original was melted down after Napoleon’s reign to create the statue of Henri IV that now stands on Pont Neuf.

Shopping
In addition to its history and architectural beauty, Place Vendôme is a popular luxury shopping destination. A number of notable jewelers and fashion designers occupy the ground floors of the hôtel particuliers surrounding the square, including French jewelers Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, Boucheron and Chopard. Some of the other luxury brand names calling Place Vendôme home are Rolex, Dior, Chanel and BVLGARI.

History

The history of Place Vendôme can be traced back to a failed real estate investment. The land was once the site of a palace owned by the First Duke of Vendome, and was later purchased by Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Mansart was the architect responsible for the Palace of Versailles, and laid out plans to develop Place Vendôme and sell the real estate for profit. His plans didn’t pan out and when the land was passed to King Louis XIV, the king enlisted Mansart to come up with the design for a public square to rival the Place des Vosges. Apart from its centerpiece, Place Vendôme has largely been preserved since its construction. However, the square has undergone several name changes.

The original name of the square was Place des Conquêtes (Conquest Square), though this proved to be a poor choice as France began losing military battles not long after the square opened. As a result, it was renamed to Place Louis le Grand and an equestrian statue of the king was erected in at the center of the square. The statue, like many others of the time, was eventually taken down during the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. When Napoleon I gained control of France in the early 19th century, he installed a victory column in its place topped with a statue in his own image. After the exile of Napoleon I, his statue was taken down and melted. The bronze column was also eventually disassembled, only to be re-installed several years later. When Napoleon III rose to power in the latter half of the 19th century, he added a replica of the original Napoleon I statue to the column.

Over the years Place Vendôme has seen its fair share of notable residents. Composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin lived at hôtel particulier no. 12, and American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife took up a residence in the Ritz for a time.

Paris Perfect's Personal Tip

Place Vendôme is just a stone’s throw away from some of the most beautiful gardens in Paris, so why not explore them before indulging in a bit of retail therapy in the square? The Gardens of Paris walking tour is a great way to soak in the ambiance of the neighborhood and gain some historical perspective at the same time. Led by an architectural or art history expert, the two-hour walk takes you through the Tuileries and Palais Royal Gardens, both of which are just a 10-minute walk from Place Vendôme.

Essential Information

• Address: Place Vendôme, Paris, France
• Closest Metro Stations: Opéra, Pyramides, Madeleine and Tuileries
• Opening Times: 24/7