Place de la Concorde

Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel in 1755, the square was originally named Place Louis XV to honor the reigning monarch. Its unique octagonal design was revolutionary for its time, featuring open vistas rather than being enclosed by buildings on all sides. It served as a grand stage for royal celebrations and showcased a magnificent equestrian statue of the King at its center, symbolizing the absolute power of the French monarchy before the winds of change began to blow. The square took a dark turn during the French Revolution when it was renamed Place de la Révolution. The royal statue was melted down and replaced by a guillotine, turning this public space into a site of state-sponsored execution. It was here that King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette met their ends, along with revolutionary figures like Danton and Robespierre. The cobblestones once ran red with blood as thousands of spectators gathered to witness the end of the Ancien Régime. In 1795, the square was renamed Place de la Concorde as a symbol of national reconciliation following the turmoil of the Terror. In the 1830s, King Louis-Philippe oversaw its final transformation, installing the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk, a gift from Egypt. Architect Jacques Ignace Hittorff added the two monumental fountains—the Fountain of the Seas and the Fountain of the Rivers—along with eight statues representing major French cities, creating the majestic architectural ensemble we see today.