Welcome to the Place de la Concorde in Paris

The Place de la Concorde in Paris is rightfully called one of the most beautiful and memorable places in the city. Not in every European capital can you find an Egyptian obelisk, adjacent to the luxurious fountains and sculptural compositions. From here you can see an excellent view of many sights of the city. For those who intend to visit all the most beautiful squares of Paris, the Place de la Concorde should be one of the first on this list. It is also the second largest in France.

History of appearance

The name of the Place de la Concorde in Paris was not always the case. Originally it was thought of as royal and was named after the then king - Louis XV. In the center was a monument depicting the monarch riding a horse. He was presented to Louis the first persons of the city, who greatly appreciated the king for his contribution to the prosperity of the country.

The architect who created the square was Jacques-Ane Gabriel. The option he proposed was truly unique for that time. Firstly, the form of the structure was 8-coal, and secondly, at that time all areas of the city were, as in a vice, clamped around the houses, representing a kind of wells. The free space around the central square and the entrance to the Seine highlighted it among the brethren. It was opened in 1763.

Where did the new name come from?

Less than 30 years have passed since the country embraced the revolution. On the site of the monument the guillotine was erected. Louis XVI, then in power, was executed on a square built in honor of his father. Many of the country's first faces said goodbye to life. The Royal Square became known as the Revolution Square.

Only after 6 years, in 1795, the guillotine was decided to remove. At the suggestion of the artist David in its place were installed Marley sculptures, once adorned with the eponymous royal palace in the suburbs of Paris. They depict brave tamers of horses. In the same year, as a sign of reconciliation of all classes, the revolutionary name of the main sight of the city was changed to the Place de la Concorde. Paris began to recover.

Obelisk and its environment

During the reign of Louis Philippe, the French capital received as a gift from the Egyptian King Mohammed Ali the Luxor obelisk, which now decorates the Place de la Concorde. The monument is made of marble and covered with ancient hieroglyphics. Its height is 23 meters, and weight - more than 230 tons. Despite the unusual for Europe view, the obelisk fits perfectly into the image of the city and made the Concorde Square in Paris even more remarkable. By the way, his twin brother still decorates the entrance to the Egyptian temple in Luxor.

Around the same years, the "Fountain of the Rivers" and "Fountain of the Seas" were installed. Each of them has a height of 9 meters. Decorated with mythical sculptural compositions, they still stand on the sides of the Egyptian obelisk. On any photo they can be easily recognized by the dark green color and golden finish that is unusual for fountains. The author is the architect Gittorf. He also designed lanterns, which in their style resemble fountains located on the square.

Statues of cities

In 1836, the Concorde Square in Paris was again supplemented. This time around it were installed 8 statues, made in antique style. The women on the pedestals symbolize the largest cities of France. In the north-western part are statues of Rouen and Brest, in the southwest - Nantes and Bordeaux, in the southeast - Lyons and Marseille, and in the northeast - sculptures depicting Lille and Strasbourg. At present, they all decorate the entrances to the underground parking lot and have no special artistic value, despite the fact that they are executed by eminent sculptors. Nevertheless, many tourists try to be photographed near them.

Surrounding attractions

The Place de la Concorde is in the heart of Paris. It is surrounded on all sides by various sights. Here the central street of the capital of France, the Champs Elysees, originates. At the entrance to it, there are copies of the very same tamer of horses, which in 1795 David suggested putting the demolished guillotine in place. The originals are in the Louvre. Standing on the Place de la Concorde, at the very end of this straight line, like a string, you can see the Arc de Triomphe - one of the main symbols of the city.

On the opposite side, in the east, is the Tuileries garden. In it you can visit the Museum of Orangerie and the National Gallery of J. de Pom. Passing through the garden, you will be right in front of the Louvre.

From the north side, the Place de la Concorde in Paris is framed by only two buildings, resembling exteriors and reminiscent of palaces. This is the famous hotel "Crillon", which is one of the most expensive in Paris, and the Ministry of the Navy of France.

The Concorde Square in our day

Since the reign of Louis-Philippe, little has changed here. The obelisk was decorated with a gilded pyramid. The rest of the sights were restored many times, but their appearance remained the same. Despite the revolutions, wars and global changes in the life of the country, the Concorde Square in Paris has remained virtually unchanged for many years. France, as it was in the early 19th century, preserved its true appearance here.

Directly on the square is the Concorde metro station. Also there are routes of many buses: 24, 42, 52, 72, 73, 84, 94.

The Place de la Concorde is not in vain considered to be central in the country. Here the main street of Paris originates , and the most famous monuments of architecture are located nearby. Therefore, in the list of the main attractions of Europe, it is not the last place.