Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris, is a place of extraordinary beauty and historical complexity. Located at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées, between the Tuileries Garden and the Champs-Élysées, this square has witnessed centuries of events that have marked French history. The square was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel in 1755 and originally called Place Louis XV, in honor of the king of France. Gabriel’s design envisioned an octagonal square adorned with moats, statues, and lampposts, with an equestrian statue of Louis XV in the center. This ambitious project was meant to celebrate the glory of the French monarchy, but the fate of the square changed drastically with the advent of the French Revolution. In 1792, the statue of Louis XV was torn down and the square was renamed Place de la Révolution. It was here that the guillotine was erected, an instrument of death that marked one of the darkest periods in French history. Between 1793 and 1794, thousands of people were executed in this square, including prominent figures such as Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Georges Danton, and Maximilien Robespierre. The sight of the guillotine dominated the square, turning it into a place of terror and spectacle for the Parisian population. With the end of the Terror period and the establishment of the Directory, the square was renamed Place de la Concorde in 1795, a name that reflected the desire for national reconciliation after years of bloody conflicts. The new name symbolized an attempt to overcome the divisions of the Revolution and promote a sense of unity and harmony. Throughout the 19th century, Place de la Concorde continued to evolve. During the reign of Louis Philippe, the French government acquired the Luxor obelisk from Egypt and erected it in the center of the square in 1836. This obelisk, 23 meters high and weighing over 250 tons, dates back to the 13th century BC and is decorated with hieroglyphics celebrating the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II. The obelisk not only added an exotic and historical element to the square, but also became a symbol of power and continuity of civilization. Around the obelisk, two monumental fountains were added during the same period: the Fontaine des Mers and the Fontaine des Fleuves, designed by Jacques-Ignace Hittorff. These fountains, inspired by the great fountains of Rome, celebrate the rivers and seas of France and add another element of grandeur to the square. Today, Place de la Concorde is surrounded by buildings of great historical and cultural significance. On the north side, two twin palaces designed by Gabriel house the luxurious Hôtel de Crillon and the Hôtel de la Marine. The latter has recently been restored and opened to the public, offering a glimpse into France’s maritime history and the sumptuous interiors of the 18th century. From an artistic point of view, Place de la Concorde is a masterpiece of French urban planning, with its balance between architecture, sculpture, and landscape. The square offers a spectacular view of the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe and on the other side towards the Louvre, creating a visual axis that has become one of the symbols of Paris. An interesting anecdote concerns the obelisk: in 1998, the obelisk was temporarily removed from its base for restoration. During this process, it was discovered that its base had been used to hide documents and objects during World War II. This discovery added another layer of history to the already rich heritage of the square.