So this is a very popular spot in my eternal Paris. It seems the world convenes here after a long walk along the Ave de Champs Elysées or the Rue de Rivoli! I was lucky enough to even worked just around the corner from it and walk to work from the Gare Saint Lazare passing close and seeing it every day for almost 9 years!
Of course, I have told you about it before but this is new text , more history and new photos not in my blog yet. Hope you enjoy the Place de la Concorde of Paris!
Well this is the most famous square in Paris. It started out named “Place Louis XV” in 1763. Later named “Place de la Révolution” during the period of terror in the French revolution, and finally took the name of the “Place de la Concorde” in 1795, to mark the reconciliation of a Nation. Again, it was re-named “Place Louis XV” in 1814, and further “Place Louis XVI” in 1826. It was not until the reign of king of the French Louis-Philippe in 1830, that it takes the current name for good of the “Place de la Concorde”. As Concord or harmony of a nation.
All roads lead you here, I used to work for many years not far close, and use the metro Concorde on bad weather when not walking by it to work. Sublime! Public transport passing by here or close are bus lines 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, and 28. Metro stations Concorde- Line 1 | station Balard -Line 8 | station Porte de la Chapelle / Mairie d’Issy – Line 12. The Concord square or plaza de la Concordia or place de la Concorde is sublime , beautiful ,romantic ,what Paris is all about!!!
A bit more on the history I like and brief description.
The Place de la Concorde was created between 1755 and 1775, on the initiative of King Louis XV!. King of the French Louis Philippe, under the July Monarchy, asked in 1839 to rearrange it. The two fountains in the Place de la Concorde, inspired by those of Saint-Pierre in Rome, were installed between 1835 and 1840 at the request of King Louis Philippe. The maritime fountain on the side of the Seine and the Fluvial fountain on the rue Royale side. The Tuileries Garden extends from the Louvre Palace (east) to the Place de la Concorde (west), it is bordered to the north by the rue de Rivoli, the Place des Pyramides and to the south by the Seine river. The Arc du Carrousel, built in 1806 in the Carrousel garden, marks the entrance to the Tuileries garden. The Tuileries Palace which closed the Louvre on its west side was burnt down during the Commune(communists later use this word) of Paris in 1871 and its ruins were razed in 1881 by the city of Paris under the Third Republic. The rue Royale begins at Place de la Concorde and ends in front of the Madeleine Church. This road was originally called rue Royale des Tuileries. The current layout of the avenue des Champs Elysées was completed in 1724, and extended the perspective of the Tuileries garden. its name comes from the place of the underworld where virtuous souls stayed in Greek mythology. Between 1766 and 1775 is erected on the Place de la Concorde, two palaces with monumental facades separated by the rue Royale. In line with the Perrault colonnade in the Louvre. Hôtel de Crillon – Hôtel Pastoret – Hôtel de Coislin and Hôtel de la Marine. The Luxor Obelisk was erected in 1836 at the initiative of the King of the French Louis-Philippe in the center of the square. It is a pink granite obelisk, dating from the 12C BC, offered to King Charles X by Mehemet Ali, Viceroy and Pasha of Egypt. The monument, weighing 230 tons and measuring 23 meters in height , was originally located in the Temple of Thebes (Luxor). another obelisk which was the pendant of the entrance to the Tuileries Palace is still there, it is covered with hieroglyphics. The Pont de Concorde bridge, 153 meters long and 35 meters wide, was built between 1787 and 1791.
Eight statues are placed on the corner sentry boxes: They represent eight French towns. Lyon and Marseille by Jean-Pierre Cortot, Lille and Strasbourg by James Pradier, Lyon and Marseille by Pierre Petitot and Bordeaux and Nantes by Louis-Denis Caillouette. The seated figures represent: the Rhine, the Rhône rivers and the Harvests of Grapes and Wheat, as well as the Mediterranean, the Ocean and Fishing.
Following the French revolution of 1789, it became the epicenter of the turmoil. The statue of Louis XV was brought down in 1792, and replaced by Liberty, a goddess draped in Roman style, wearing a Phrygian cap, who firmly holds her sceptre. King Louis XVI was guillotined on January 21, 1793 as were Queen Marie-Antoinette, the Girondins, Danton, Mme Roland, Robespierre and many others. During the reign of Terror, 1119 people died there. Under the Directory, Lucien Bonaparte removes the remains of the guillotine and the Statue of Liberty. Under the Restoration king Charles X plans to place a statue of his brother Louis XVI in its center but did not succeeded, the square was briefly named.
The Paris tourist office on the Place de la Concorde: https://en.parisinfo.com/transport/90907/Place-de-la-Concorde
The Ïle de France region tourist office on Paris monuments and museums: https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/what-to-see-and-do/museums-and-monuments
So now feel better fully describe this gem of my eternal Paris, you can see the previous post on it dated Nov 9 2019. And hope you enjoy the tour of the wonderful Place de la Concorde in Paris, of course.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 