Place des Vosges (formerly Place Royale)

Place des Vosges is the oldest square in Paris, just before Place Dauphine.
Place des Vosges is in the heart of the marsh, while Place Dauphine is on the Ile de la Cité.
The Place des Vosges is one of the jewels of the marsh, which our guides will be delighted to show you on our guided tours of the unusual marsh.

What is the origin of the name Place des Vosges?
Who built Place Royale, which later became Place des Vosges?
When was Place des Vosges built?
What are the features of the Place des Vosges?
When was the Place des Vosges listed as a Monument Historique?
Which illustrious figures lived on Place des Vosges?
What is Place des Vosges known for today?

What is the origin of the name Place des Vosges?

It was named in honor of the Vosges department, the first to pay taxes during the French Revolution, and the first national volunteers from the Remiremont arrondissement to defend the country in danger. In 1800, Place Royale was renamed Place des Vosges.

Who built Place Royale, which later became Place des Vosges? Who commissioned it and who designed it?

King Henri IV had the idea of building a Place Royale, part of which he reserved for his own personal use. He therefore commissioned the Place. Designed by architect Louis Métezeau, it resembles Charleville-Mézières' Place Ducale.

When was Place des Vosges built?

The original site of the famous Place du Marais was the Hôtel des Tournelles, which Catherine de Médicis abandoned on the death of her husband Henri II.
Place des Vosges, then known as Place Royale, was built in the early 17th century.
Work began in 1605 and was completed in 1612, two years after the death of King Henri IV. The square was inaugurated to mark the engagement of King Louis XIII to Anne of Austria.

What are the features of the Place des Vosges?

The Place des Vosges is a perfect square measuring 140 m long by 140 m wide.

It is an enclosed square, accessible via a main street on one of its four sides and two streets running under pavilions. From 1605 onwards, plots of land were allocated to private individuals to build pavilions with uniform facades, probably designed by Louis Metezeau. These stone and brick facades are flanked on the first floor by arcaded galleries. However, the whole is not uniform, with different dormer windows, varying gallery depths and some owners replacing brick with painted rubble.
New roads were created, one running north-south, under the King's pavilion (south) and the Queen's pavilion (north). These two pavilions were owned by the king until the French Revolution, but no monarch ever resided there.

The pavillon de la reine was inhabited by Queen Anne of Austria.
Today, the Queen's pavilion houses a prestigious hotel.

At the center of the Place des Vosges is the square Louis-XIII, lined with rows of trees and featuring four fountains designed by Jean-Pierre Cortot, fed by the Ourcq river. The Monument à Louis XIII, an equestrian statue designed by Charles Dupaty and finished by Jean-Pierre Cortot, was inaugurated in 1825. The first bronze equestrian statue, dating from 1639, had been destroyed during the French Revolution.

The Place des Vosges communicates with the Hôtel de Sully.


Today, at 6 rue de la Place des Vosges, you'll find the maison de Victor Hugo, in the former Hôtel de Rohan-Guémené, where Victor Hugo rented an apartment. It is now a museum.



At 14 de la Place des Vosges is the Charles Liché synagogue.

When was the Place des Vosges listed as a Monument Historique?

The square has been classified as a historic monument since October 26, 1954, and has benefited from the enhancement intended by André Malraux, as part of the PSMV of the Marais.

Which illustrious figures lived on Place des Vosges?

- The Hôtel des Coulanges at 1 Bis de la Place des Vosges was the birthplace of Marie de Rabutin Chantal, the future Marquise de Sévigné, on February 6, 1626.
This mansion belonged to her maternal grandfather, Philippe I de Coulanges, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal's maternal grandfather.

- 21 was the address of Cardinal de Richelieu's Hôtel particulier.

What is the Place des Vosges known for today?

It's known as the oldest square in Paris, and as the place of residence of many personalities from the worlds of politics, the arts and the media.
It's also known for its many art galleries.


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