Description
The Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris and located in the 8th arrondissement (district) of Paris, at the end of the Avenue des Champs Élysées, which connects it to the Place Charles-de-Gaulle. The square was ordered to be built in 1755 as a suitable frame for the then planned statue of Louis XV.
During the French Revolution the square's name was altered into Place de la Révolution. Many executions took place here, such as the beheading of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. to name the most prominent ones. In 1830 it was renamed yet again into Place de la Concorde, which has remained the square's name up to this very day. Shortly after it was renamed, its landmark was built on it.
A huge obelisk from Luxor in Egypt, a present of an Egyptian vice-king, has remained a symbol for the difficult concord of France on the Place de la Concorde. On the square, one can find eight female statues symbolically representing the cities Lille, Bordeaux, Brest, Rouen, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes and Strasbourg.The square additionally offers two large fountains dedicated to French shipping on oceans and rivers.
The Place de la Concorde covers a surface of 68,470 m². It is popular among both tourists and locals. Each year all celebrations for the French Bastille Day find their joyous ending here on July 14th.
How to get there
By subway
Take metro line 1 and get off at the station “Concorde”.
By city train
Take the RER until you get to the station “Charles de Gaulle – Étoile” and then continue on the Champs Élysées leading you straight to the Place de la Concorde.
By bus
Alternatively, you can just take one of the many buses frequently passing by the Place de la Concorde.