Place Vendôme , an emblem of Parisian luxury and a jewel of classical French architecture , dates back to the turn of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV , the Sun King. Eager to create a majestic square that reflected his power, the monarch called upon Jules Hardouin-Mansart , the illustrious architect of the Palace of Versailles and the Church of Les Invalides , to design a harmonious urban space in the heart of Paris .

Located in the 1st arrondissement, between the Opéra Garnier and the Tuileries Gardens , Place Vendôme was built on the former site of the Hôtel de Vendôme , owned by the Duke of Vendôme , great-grandson of King Henry IV . It is from this noble lineage that the square takes its name. Its octagonal layout, its symmetrical facades adorned with Corinthian columns and its sumptuous private mansions illustrate the ambition to make Paris a capital on a par with the great European metropolises of the time.

Over the centuries, Place Vendôme has become a mecca of French elegance , hosting renowned jewelers such as Cartier , Boucheron and Chaumet , as well as prestigious establishments such as the Ritz Paris . But beyond luxury, the square retains a strong historical legacy. It was notably the scene of political upheavals, such as the erection of the Vendôme Column by Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz, cast from cannons captured from the enemy.

Today, Place Vendôme attracts French history enthusiasts, Baroque architecture lovers, and tourists who come to admire this essential symbol of Paris . Each stone tells the story of Parisian heritage , where power, art, and refinement blend together.