Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde

Introduction   Built in 1757, Place de la Concorde is a very beautiful square originally dedicated to King Louis XV.

Located in the middle section of the Champs-Élysées, it offers views of many of Paris’s most iconic sights: the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Tuileries Garden, the Louvre, and more.

During the French Revolution, it was called “Revolution Square” and served as an execution site. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, Madame Roland, and Robespierre were all guillotined here. In 1795, it was renamed “Place de la Concorde.”

In the center of the square stands an obelisk brought from the Temple of Luxor in Egypt. Standing 23 meters tall, it was a gift from Egypt to France in 1831. The obelisk is covered in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs praising the glorious achievements of Pharaoh Ramses II. The fountains on either side of the obelisk were built between 1836 and 1846 and were modeled after two fountains in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. When the lights come on at night, the scene feels almost magical.  Transportation   Metro lines 1, 8, and 12 to Concorde Station. The square is also within walking distance from the Louvre.

Paris, France