Place Vendôme

The Hôtel Mansart invites you to discover one of Paris's architectural gems, the major centre for the great jeweller companies and an historic site created in the reign of the Sun King to symbolise the splendour of his reign.

Located between the Tuileries gardens and Place de l’Opéra, it is one of five royal squares in the capital designed by the architect Jules Hardouin Mansart. At its centre is the Vendôme column.

A royal square

Place Vendôme is one of the capital's five royal squares, along with Place de la Victoire, Place de la Concorde, Place Dauphine and Place des Vosges. It originated in King Louis XIV's wish to display the magnificence of his reign, and was designed by the architect of the Chateau de Versailles, Jules Hardouin Mansart, together with the Minister of Finances Louvois from 1699. In its centre is an equestrian statue of the sovereign. During the French Revolution, the statue was destroyed. Napoleon had it replaced by the Vendôme column, a copy of which can be seen in the square today, celebrating the glory of the Napoleonic army after its victory at Austerlitz in 1805. At the top stands a statue of the Emperor. The column was destroyed during the events of the Paris Commune and Gustave Courbet, who was accused of destroying it, was made to reimburse the costs. Today, the square is the home of the great jewellery houses along with several major financial institutions since the arrival of the banker John Law here in 1718.

A world jewellery centre

This famous square is the home of the greatest jewellery houses and is itself shaped like a diamond with its square structure and cut-off angles. Day and night, the square is a real architectural gem with its period lampposts and street lighting. During the Second Empire, the Hôtel Mansart, at the corner of Place Vendôme and Rue des Capucines, was the home of the jeweller Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonier, one of the first of the many jewellers to move to the square and its vicinity. Among the famous names are Chaumet, Dior, Bulgari, Boucheron, Chanel, Fred, Poiray, Mauboussin, Van Cleef & Arpels. The high jewellery houses such as the Cartier boutique, extend into Rue de la Paix, which links Place Vendôme to Opéra Garnier.