Place Vendôme - Royal Square

Place Vendôme was commissioned by Louis XIV and is one of the five royal squares in Paris. Its shape is an octogon (8 sides). The name derives from the private mansion of the Duc de Vendôme (illegitimate son of King Henri IV) that used to stand here.

That mansion and a nearby convent were bought by Louis XIV and all of that was demolished to make way for a new royal square. Architect Jules Hardoin-Mansart was naturally in charge of the project as he was the first architect of the Sun King.

Originally, there was a statue of Louis XIV in the middle of the square. He was depicted riding a horse. A small copy of the statue can be seen in the Louvre museum. The statue itself was destroyed - you guessed it - during the French Revolution...