1 Place de la Concorde: the noble square
The Place de la Concorde is a place where history meets architectural splendor, offering an exceptional panorama in the heart of Paris. A site not to be missed! It's located at the bottom of the most beautiful avenue of the Champs-Elysées, not far from the Assemblée Nationale, the quays of the Seine with the Grand Palais or the Palais de l'Elysée. Here you'll find the Crillon, a famous Parisian palace, as well as the famous Hôtel de la Marine which recounts the opulence of the French aristocratic world in the 18th century. This is where the presidential grandstand is located for the July 14th parade;
The fountains make, with the obelisk, the stunning beauty of the Place de la Concorde / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: gurgenb via dépositphotos
A little history! It was begun in 1748, by the will of King Louis XV, to plans by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel. It was here, during the French Revolution, that many historical figures were guillotined, from Louis XVI to Marie-Antoinette, via Olympe de Gouge, Lavoisier, Madame du Barry and many others. Christened "Place de la Concorde" in 1795 to enhance concord among the French after the Revolution, it was adorned with the oldest monument in Paris: the obelisk of Luxor, donated by Egypt in 1831 and installed there a few years later (its journey was epic). The late 19th century saw the development with fountains, lampposts and statues representing major French cities.
One of the fountains with the Eiffel Tower in the distance / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : by omid lotfi de Pixabay
Getting there
- Address : place de la concorde / 75 008 Paris -
- Métro : Concorde lines 1 - 8 and 12
The Concorde obelisk is the oldest monument in Paris. Erected in 1836, it is 3000 years old, having been created in 1290 BC / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com ginasanders via depositphotos
2 Place de l'Etoile: the national square
The Place de l'Etoile, with the Arc de Triomphe, is a must-see monument of Paris and France as a whole, since here lies the tomb of the unknown soldier. Located at the convergence of 12 avenues, which form a star around the Arc de Triomphe, it is the symbolic point of national patriotic ceremonies on May 8, July 14 and November 11. You can climb the Arc de Triomphe and enjoy a magnificent view over Paris and the Champs-Elysées in particular. Be careful, don't cross the street, think of going through the tunnels for greater safety.
L'arc de triomphe / Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.com: shutterstock.
A little history: the champs-élysées were for a very long time a very green promenade since they were outside Paris. We used to come here to stroll and enjoy the many gardens. It was the 19th century that turned everything upside down. In 1806 Napoleon ordered the construction of the arch after his victory at Austerlitz. For the record, we almost had an elephant at the top of the champs-élysées but the project was rejected in the 18th century and so a triumphal arch was installed. It was completed in 1836. This is where, on November 11 1920, the body of an unknown soldier taken from one of the 6 major battlefields of the First World War was buried. The flame was installed a little later, and it is rekindled every evening at 6pm. The moving ceremony is open to the public. This is also the point of departure for the Liberation of Paris procession led by Charles de Gaulle (for whom Place de l'Etoile is officially named) in 1944;
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: shutterstock
Getting there
- Address : Place Charles de Gaulle 75 008 PARIS
- Métro : Lignes 1, 2 et 6 : station Charles de Gaulle - Etoile / Lignes 1 et 9 : station Franklin Delanoe Roosevelt / Lines 1 and 13: station Champs-Elysées - Clémenceau (approx. 15-minute walk).
La Marseillaise de l'arc de triomphe par Rude. Detail. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: shutterstock.
3 Place des Vosges: the oldest square in Paris
La place des Vosges and its very own architecture / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: masterlu via depositphotos
The Place des Vosges is both a testimony to the history of Parisian urban planning and a lively place, appreciated for its peaceful atmosphere in the heart of the Marais, Paris' historic district. To discover the architecture first, with its alternating stone and brickwork typical of the Louis XIII style (early 17th century), then more specifically thes Pavillons Symétriques: The 36 identical buildings that line the square, including the famous Pavillon du Roi and Pavillon de la Reine. Some houses are historic also by their inhabitants, includingVictor Hugo's house at number 6. There are also art galleries all around the central garden with fountains.
One of the fountains at Place des Vosges / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com depositphotos
A little history: created in the early XVIIᵉ century by Henri IV, it was supposed to be dedicated to him, but he died in 1610, 2 years beforethe square's inauguration in 1612. Called the "royal square", it was revolutionary for its time, with its regular urban planning and square shape in the middle of a Paris which, at the time, was a succession of tortuous, dark and often ill-famed alleyways. The French Revolution, abolishing all that could be royal, renamed it in 1800 in homage to the Vosges department, the first French department to pay the republican tax and one of the largest departments in terms of the number of soldiers who left to defend the Fatherland in 1792.
Getting there
- Address: Place des Vosges / 75 004 Paris
- Métro : Saint Paul line 1 or Bastille metro lines 1, 5 and 8
4 Place Vendôme: the place of luxury
The Place Vendôme, a symbol of Parisian luxury, is famous for its classical architecture and prestigious signage. Designed in a classic French style, the square is lined with majestic facades with regular arcades and slate roofs. The buildings house institutions such as the Ministry of Justice (the residence of the Keeper of the Seals is located here) as well as the Ritz, one of the world's finest palaces, and numerous haute joallerie boutiques such as Cartier, Boucheron or Chaumet. It's one of the places in France with the greatest concentration of savoir-faire, with many of France's finest craftsmen working in jewellers' workshops. Not far away, luxury also flourishes on the Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré. The Vendôme column has graced this street since the 19th century;
La place Vendôme Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: AndreaA. via depositphotos
Created in 1702 at the instigation of Louis XIV, it was intended to embody royal power. Originally called "Place Louis-le-Grand", it housed private mansions for the nobility. Note that the facades were only erected in the beginning, and that private individuals who came to build their houses had to do so behind the facade already built. It was in 1810 that the Colonne Vendôme was erected, inspired by the Trajan column in Rome and dedicated to Napoleon.Destroyed, the original column was replaced in 1875 and is still there. It is 44.3 metres high and 3.50 metres thick . For the record, there's a staircase inside. A place of power, prestige and refinement, the square has become an emblem of Parisian luxury and history...
Place Vendôme by night / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: dépositphotos.
Getting there
- Address place Vendôme / 75 001 Paris
- Métro : Opéra lines 3 - 7 and 8 or tuileries line 1 (you have to walk a little)
5 Place du Trocadéro: the best view of the Eiffel Tower
The view from the Place du Trocadéro is one of the most famous views of the Eiffel Tower / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: pio3 via depositphotos
The square takes its name from the Battle of Trocadéro (1823), a French victory in Spain. The first Palais du Trocadéro, built for the 1878 Universal Exhibition, was Moorish in style. Replaced by the Palais de Chaillot for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, it adopted an Art Deco style. This is the most typical "Art Deco" style square in Paris and indeed in the world. And it's complete, since this style can be found not only in the buildings (the Palais de Chaillot) but also in the sculptures that adorn the square.
The statues are worth a real look on Place du Trocadéro / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphoto
The Place du Trocadéro offers one of the finest panoramas of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. It's surrounded by Les Jardins du Trocadéro which are adorned with fountains and statues. This is where you get a spectacular view of the Champ-de-Mars and the Eiffel Tower. Here you'll find The Palais de Chaillot, a building that houses several institutions, including the Musée de l'Homme, the Musée de la Marine and the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. The basins and fountains are also well worth a look;
Other sculptures at the Palais de Chaillot / photo dépositphotos
Getting there
- Address : esplanade du Trocadéro / 75 116 PARIS
- Métro : Trocadéro lignes 6 et 9
6 Place du Tertre: Montmartre at its heart
La place du Tertre in Montmartre / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: shutterstock
The Place du Tertre is the heart of Montmartre, that village in Paris. It's known for its numerous typical cafés and restaurants and for the artists who exhibit and paint in the open air. The Basilique du Sacré-coeur is nearby and offers the most beautiful view in Paris, perhaps because Montmartre is its culminating point (125 meters).
The typical painters of the Place du Tertre / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
A little history: Once the center of the village of Montmartre; located outside Paris and famous for its mills that supplied Paris with flour, it was a gathering place for the inhabitants as early as the Middle Ages. In the XIXᵉ, with the arrival of artists such as Picasso, Utrillo and Modigliani, Montmartre became a mecca for bohemian and artistic life. The Place du Tertre epitomizes this effervescent era. After Montmartre was annexed to Paris in 1860, the square retained its picturesque charm, becoming an iconic tourist spot.
Getting there
- Address place du tertre / 75 018 PARIS
- metro abbesses line 12
Nearby is the Basilique du Sacré-coeur / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: shutterstock.
7 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville: the beating heart of Paris
The Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is dominated bythe imposing Hôtel de Ville de Paris building, a masterpiece of late 19th-century architecture. The building, which is Europe's largest town hall, is a blend of Renaissance and neo-classical styles, with its ornate facades and magnificent statues. It was built in place of an older building burnt down by fire in 1871 during the Paris Commune. The square is a lively place, often used for public events, open-air concerts or cultural events.
Town Hall decked out in tricolors / Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.
Numerous events have taken place on this square, large and small, such as the Liberation of Paris and General de Gaulle's famous speech "Paris outragé, Paris martyrisé mais Paris libéré". The place has long been known as the Place de Grève. It was here that public executions were carried out (Ravaillac, Henri IV's assassin, was drawn and quartered in 1610). People also came "on strike" to look for work. A way of saying that has slipped into the opposite: today we're on strike when we refuse to work.
The facade of the hotel is rich with a multitude of symbols and statues / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: depositphotos.
Getting there
- Address : esplanade de la Libération 75 004 PARIS
- Métro : 1 (hôtel de ville stop) and 11.
8 Place de la République: the place of ideas
The Republic recognizable by its Phrygian cap / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
The Place de la République is a vast square of just over 3 Ha located in the heart of Paris, dominated by the majestic 9-meter-high statue of the Republic erected in 1883 At its feet are found liberty, equality and fraternity represented to remind us that "Liberté égalité fraternité" is the motto of the French republic. The square is also an important crossroads linking several of Paris's major boulevards, and is a venue often used for public gatherings, demonstrations and celebrations. Demonstrations begin or end here, and it's rare to see a day without a gathering around speakers. This is where Parisians gathered at the time of the Charlie-Hebdo attacks in 2015 sporting pencils to pay tribute to the satirical cartoonists slaughtered by terrorists. Around the square, you'll find typical Haussmann buildings and cafés, as well as rue du Faubourg du Temple and rue Oberkampf, famous for their stores and lively atmosphere.
The French turned out in droves to pay tribute to Charlie Hebdo on the evening of the 2015 attacks / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Pixinooo via depositphotos
Getting there
- Address : place de la République 75003 75010 et 75011 PARIS
- Metro : République 3, 5, 8, 9 et 11
9 Place de la Bastille: the place of the French Revolution and celebration.
The Place de la Bastille in Paris with the July Column and the Opera-Bastille / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com gianliguori via depositphotos
The Place de la Bastille is a lively crossroads of Paris, located at the junction of several major boulevards. It is dominated by the 52-meter-high July Column, erected in memory of the 1830 revolution. An imposing statue, it weighs over 170,000 kg. It has to be said that it's made of bronze. At the top is the genius of Liberty holding a torch and its chains torn off. Surrounding the square are cafés, restaurants, as well as the Opéra Bastille, one of the two opera houses in Paris along with the Opéra Garnier. It opened in 1989 to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution. It has to be said that it all began here. The Bastille district is one of Paris's most convivial and festive neighborhoods. Not to be missed!
The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 / illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: By Jean-Pierre Houël - Bibliothèque nationale de France, Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106405
A little history: Place de la Bastille is named after the famous Bastille prison simply because this is where the fortress had been located since the 14th century. It was the storming of the Bastille on July 14 that really began the French Revolution. The fortress was destroyed stone by stone. Long empty, an elephant was installed here under Napoleon 1st. It was destroyed after the Trois Glorieuses, the 3 days of the July Revolution in 1830. The colonne de Juillet (or colonne des trois glorieuses) was erected over a crypt containing the remains of fallen revolutionaries and... Mummies (brought back from Egypt by Napoleon and buried there somewhat by accident);
Getting there
- Address : Place de la bastille 75 012 PARIS
- Métro : Bastille on metro lines 1, 5 and 8
The genius of the July column at Place de la Bastille in Paris / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : by Talpa de Pixabay
10 Place Dauphine: Paris's romantic square
Because it's quiet, a little out of the way, but in the heart of Paris not far from the Pont-neuf, this square is very romantic. Of surprising shape, it's triangular, dates from the 17th century and is called "Dauphine" because it was erected for the dauphin, in other words the heir to the throne of France (in this case the son of Henri IV the future Louis XIII). A small square adorns its center;
The Place Dauphine and its trees / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
Going there
- Address Place Dauphine 75 001 PARIS
- Métro : Pont neuf line 7
