The history of the famous Place Vendôme

Place Vendôme, located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, is one of the most iconic squares in the French capital. Known for its architecture, rich history and association with the world of luxury, it embodies Parisian refinement and remains a must-see destination for lovers of jewelry, watches, art and history.

Along with Place des Victoires, Place de la Concorde, Place des Vosges and Place Dauphine, it is one of the city's five royal squares.

Origins of Place Vendôme

Historically, the idea of ​​building the Place Vendôme arose in 1677, from a group of speculators, among whom was one of the great masters of French classical architecture: Jules Hardouin-Mansart, wishing to draw inspiration from the Place des Vosges and bring together buildings intended for the Library, the Mint, the French Academy and an Ambassadors' Hotel. 

Unfortunately, financial difficulties put an end to the project, which was revived in 1685, redesigned by the François Michel Le Tellier, Marquis of Louvois who took up the idea and bought the Hôtel de Vendôme and the Capucines convent which were located on Rue Saint-Honoré at the time. On their sites, the architects Jules Hardouin-Mansart and Germain Boffrand suggested the construction of a large rectangular square, entirely open onto Rue Saint-Honoré and surrounded by large public buildings: the royal library, Hôtel de la Monnaie, Hôtel des Académies, Hôtel des Ambassadeurs, etc.

The facades are built (even before the buildings) and in the middle of the square is erected a bronze equestrian statue of Louis XIV that Louvois commissions from François Girardon. This square which was initially to be called “Place of Conquests" will finally take the name of "Place Louis-le-Grand” until the time of the Revolution (1789).

In 1699, the public program of 1685 was abandoned in favor of a private operation, at the initiative of the roi Louis XIV, who wanted a space that would symbolize the grandeur of his reign. Designed again by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, thea new place It was originally intended to house an equestrian statue of the Sun King in the centre, in homage to the monarch, and also to be surrounded by private mansions to be inhabited by members of the nobility and wealthy financiers. 

One of the most famous hotels is the Hôtel de Bourvallais, now the Ministry of Justice, located at number 13 on the square. Other prestigious hotels, such as the Ritz Hotel, opened at the beginning of the XNUMXth century and strengthened the reputation of the square.

Due to financial problems, the project took several years to come to fruition. The construction of the square was not completed until 1720, after the death of Louis XIV. The Place Vendôme nevertheless remained marked by the influence of the Sun King and his ambition to shine the spotlight on royal power.

In 1764, the Saint-Ovide fair was set up on the square before arriving on the Place Louis-XV in 1771 - the future Place de la Concorde - due to the general discontent of the new owners of the private mansions.

In 1801, a road was opened between the square and the new rue de Rivoli, initially called rue de Castiglione. In place of the Capucines convent, the rue de la Paix was opened in 1806. The closure of these roads disrupted the system, imagined by Mansart, of a square isolated from traffic, such as the Place des Vosges. The first two viewpoints were destroyed: to the north, the portal of François II d'Orbay of the Capucines convent; to the south, the portal of François Mansart of the Feuillants convent.

The place is renamed, “International Square"in 1871, for a short time, before the Vendôme column was torn down by the Communards who saw it as a symbol of the tyranny and militarism of Napoleon I.  

The Vendôme Column: Symbol of Napoleon's Victories

The column has undergone several changes over the course of the regimes, it remains a symbol of the imperial heritage and French military bravery. Here is a look back at the various adventures it has undergone: 

First, an equestrian statue of Louis XIV was erected in the centre of the square on 6 August 1699. 

Much later, in 1792, she was shot dead by the crowd during the riot which forced the royal family who were staying at the Tuileries Palace to take refuge in the Legislative Assembly.. The following year and until 1799, it took the name of “Place of the Pikes”.  

A few years later, in 1806, the Vendôme column as we know it was created under Emperor Napoleon I. Known to the public as the Vendôme Column, it was initially called the Austerlitz Column or the Grande-Armée Column. It was built in homage to the victories of the French army at Austerlitz and was built on the former site of Louis XIV. Designed by architects Jacques Gondouin and Jean-Baptiste Lepère, its design was inspired by the helical bas-relief of Trajan's Column in Rome. The Vendôme Column was then decorated with bronze reliefs depicting battle scenes and topped with a statue of Napoleon in imperial garb, also called "Caesar" made by Antoine-Denis Chaudet. 

This first statue was removed by Casimir Perier under the July Monarchy, in 1831, to be replaced in 1833 again by a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte in “little corporal” produced by Charles Emile Seurre.

The showcase of jewelry, watches - French luxury

Rue de la Paix was first occupied by jewellers, following the jewellery house Mellerio dit Meller, which settled there in 1815. Extending the rue de la Paix, the Place Vendôme was in turn invested. 

In addition to jewelers, other luxury brands emerged there. In 1858, the couturier Charles Frederick Wortj opened at 7 rue de la Paix. His success attracted many couturiers, milliners, hatters, tailors, shoemakers, perfumers and made the district the epicenter of fashion, also extending to rue de Castiglione. Later, in 1898, the Ritz hotel was born, a place that quickly became famous and frequented by personalities such as Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway and many others. 

To return to jewelry, Frà © dà © ric Boucheron was the first jeweler to set up shop on the square in 1893, who wanted to leave the Palais-Royal district to set up shop near the Opera. Subsequently, many prestigious names set up shop there, including the famous houses Cartier in 1899, Van Cleef & Arpels 1906 in, and Chaumet the following year.

A few years later, it was the watchmakers who set up shop on Place Vendôme, like Piaget in 1991, Patek Philippe in 1995, Chopard in 2003, Breguet in 2006 ...

Today, Place Vendôme is THE symbol of French luxury and elegance:The classic, symmetrical stone facades, topped with arcades and slate roofs, the hotels decorated with architectural details: pilasters, cornices and mascarons… bear witness to the classic style of the period and their architectural know-how. Each jewelry house continues to perpetuate its heritage while renewing itself. The square has become a popular destination for tourists, where prestigious events are regularly organized, such as the Fashion Week. 

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