Why does the Place du Tertre swarm with mediocre artists clamoring to paint your portrait? As is often the case in Paris, it’s Baron Haussmann’s fault! But for once, the baron did some good along with the damage when, by razing many working-class neighbourhoods in central Paris, he unwittingly encouraged the development of Montmartre (which [...]
Paris’ original attempt at urban planning, the Place des Vosges is now its oldest square. The square symmetry of the square, with its ground floor arcade, consists of 39 (some say 36) houses – each made of red brick with stone facings. Its construction was under Henri IV from 1605 – 1612. The site was [...]
The Place de l’Étoile is a large Place in Paris, France, the meeting point of twelve straight avenues (hence the name “Star Square”) including the Champs-Élysées which continues to the east. It was renamed Place Charles de Gaulle in 1970 in honor of President de Gaulle, but is still largely referred to by its original name. The square lies in [...]
Place Vendôme is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It is the starting point of the Rue de la Paix. Its regular architecture by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and pedimented screens canted across the corners give the rectangular Place [...]
The Bois de Boulogne was an ancient hunting forest but was landscaped in the 1860ís under the direction of Baron Haussmann. The Bagatelle Gardens, built around the Chateau de Bagatelle – where classical concerts are often held – are a not-to-be-missed part of the Bois particularly in the late spring and early summer; tulips in [...]
Place Saint-Michel is located on the Left Bank of Paris, France in the Latin Quarter of the sixth arrondissement. The cross-roads square exists at the intersection of several streets including: Quai Saint-Michel, Boulevard Saint-Michel, Quai des Grandes-Augustus, and Pont Saint-Michel, which connects with Boulevard du Palais on l’Ile de la Cite. A connection by a [...]
Extending from the Seine all the way to the Rue de Rivoli is the Place de la Concorde, the largest and the most famous single square in Paris. It probably would be possible to come to Paris and miss this square if (a) your hotel was located somewhere in the Latin Quarter and you never [...]
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