Located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, between the Jardin des Tuileries and the Opera Garnier, the Place Vendôme is one of the most famous squares in Paris and one of the most luxurious in the world. Take the time to discover it, if only for the pleasure of browsing...
A global centre of luxury
Its prestigious setting plays host to the biggest names in jewellery and high-class watchmaking, so it’s no surprise that the beautiful neoclassical square called the Place Vendôme has become the symbol of French luxury, famed throughout the world. Lined with display windows glittering with diamonds, rubies and emeralds set in exquisitely designed rings, bracelets and necklaces, the Place Vendôme attracts wealthy customers from all over. Standing to the north of the Jardin des Tuileries, the Place Vendome is accessible via the famous Rue de la Paix and the almost equally well-known Rue de Castiglione.
A rich history
The history of the Place Vendôme dates back to the very beginning of the 18th century and the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV, who decreed it would be a monument to the glory of his armies. The octagonal-shaped design and that of the façades of the buildings that surround the square were entrusted to Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect who designed the Palace of Versailles. At the centre of the square is the Vendôme Column, surmounted by a statue of Napoleon. This is a copy of the original, which was destroyed during the Paris Commune of 1871.
The legends of the Place Vendome are numerous, including one featuring the Maharajah of Patiala, who arrived one day in 1923 at Boucheron flanked by a dozen guards and retainers bearing 6 crates filled with emeralds to be made into jewellery.
Don’t miss this legendary Parisian location during your stay at the Hotel Volney Opera!
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Crédit photo : © Flickr - Giorgio Galeotti
Hotel Volney Opéra, un 3-star hotel in the heart of Opéra district