Really should I give it a different name, this short one says it all to the world, this is the Place de la Concorde of my eternal Paris. A must to walk it and see its wonders of architecture and history all around it. 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 . Of course, I have told you about it before in my blog, but this is new text , more history and new older 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, me and many others think. However, do you know 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. King Louis XVI was guillotined on January 21, 1793 as well as Queen Marie-Antoinette, the Girondins, Danton, Mme Roland, Robespierre and many others. During the reign of Terror, 1119 people died there.
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. Also, the wonderful underground parking Concorde !webpage: https://fr.parkindigo.com/parking/paris-75008/place-de-la-concorde-75082100
More of this wonderful unique Place de la Concorde!
The Place de la Concorde is located at the center via the Pont de la Concorde which crosses the Seine towards the 7éme arrondissement, on the Palais Bourbon. Administratively, the square itself is located in the Champs-Élysées district of which it is the eastern end. But the two buildings that border it to the north, on either side of the rue Royale, are in the Madeleine district, still in the 8éme arrondissement, while the Tuileries garden which adjoins it is located in the Saint -Germain-l’Auxerrois of the 1éme arrondissement.
Looking around we can say the Place de la Concorde has the following landmarks, On the north side, at the end of rue Royale, you will see the Madeleine Church. The building to the east is the Hôtel de la Marine, On the west side, the buildings were initially mansions of senior officials. They are now partly home to the Hôtel de Crillon, one of the most luxurious palaces in the world, and the Automobile Club de France, a private club. Finally, to the left of these buildings, set back, is the United States Embassy, built in the 20C. In contrast, on the south side of the square, behind the Pont de la Concorde, you will see the Palais Bourbon, an 18C building which is today the parliament of French deputies, the National Assembly (see post). On the east side is the Tuileries Garden, (see post) one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris, and on the west side is the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, (see post) the most beautiful avenue in the world !
The ditches were filled in, two fountains were installed, statues representing towns in France, rostral columns and above all the Luxor obelisk which had been offered to King Charles X. It is the largest square in Paris, and one of the most famous sites in Paris with its emblematic obelisk. Eight statues are placed on the corner sentry boxes representing eight French towns. Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Nantes, In 1795, a famous sculpted group, the horses of Marly was placed at the entrance to the Champs-Elysées. On either side of the obelisk, are place two large cast iron fountains, called the Fountain of the Seas and the Fountain of the Rivers. The square was surrounded by candelabra and rostral columns.
In 1913, Camille Flammarion proposed to the City of Paris to draw on the Place de la Concorde the lines of the largest sundial in the world. The City released funds in 1938, but WWII interrupted the progress of the work. Flammarion’s dream was finally realized on June 21, 1999, the day of the summer solstice, at the initiative of the Astronomical Society of France. The 31.4 meter high obelisk serves as a style for the dial. The curves of the solstices, the lines of the equinoxes and the lines of hours were marked, on the pedestrian zones, by heat-sealed bands in bronze color and, on the roadway, by 400 bronze nails.
A curious plaque remains visible at the corner of Place de la Concorde and rue Boissy d´Anglas. Protected by a piece of plexiglas, it mentions a curious name to say the least. It is in fact the Place Louis XVI. It recalls the name that the square bore between 1826 and 1828 and the beheading of the king on this same square on January 21, 1793. Difficult to read and difficult to admit that this mark has survived when we know what happened on this so-called Royal square at the time.
The last architectural development was in 1931 with the disappearance of the Hotel Grimod de La Reynière, built in 1775 in compliance with Gabriel’s ordinance but disfigured over time by successive additions, and its replacement by the United States Embassy in accordance with the original project. Since 1937, no notable change can affect the place which is classified as a whole a historical monument of France.
The Paris tourist office on the Place de la Concorde: https://en.parisinfo.com/transport/90907/Place-de-la-Concorde
The outings webpage of the city of Paris sortir Paris on the Place de la Concorde in French: https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/histoire-patrimoine/articles/172709-histoire-de-la-place-de-la-concorde
There you go folks, a wonderful must see while in Paris. Get the inmense feeling of this eternal beautiful city with the sights of architecture and history all around you in the Place de la Concorde!!! Paris is indeed a mouvable feast!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 