Place Vendôme, Paris, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Place Vendôme is an elegant octagonal square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, laid out at the end of the 17th century for Louis XIV. Today it is known for its uniform stone facades, the bronze column at its centre, the Ritz hotel and some of the world's most famous jewellers.

The story behind it

The square was designed by the royal architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and its harmonious facades were planned before most of the buildings behind them were built. Wealthy financiers and aristocrats later bought the plots and fitted out grand townhouses within that fixed frame. The column in the middle was raised under Napoleon to mark his victory at Austerlitz, and its spiralling bronze relief was inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome. It was pulled down during the Paris Commune in 1871 and later restored.

The square is also tied to the story of Coco Chanel. She lived at the Ritz, at number 15, for many years, including the war years, and her wartime relationship with a German officer, Hans Günther von Dincklage, is a well-documented and still debated part of her story. The Ritz drew other famous regulars too, among them Marcel Proust, who is said to have dined there very often.

What to look for

• The matching facades with tall arched windows, steep roofs and carved masks, which give the square its calm, uniform look.
• The spiral band of bronze reliefs winding up the column, topped by a statue of Napoleon.
• The discreet entrance of the Ritz at number 15, a short walk from the spot where Chanel's story in Paris unfolds.
• The jewellers' windows around the square, where the displays change but the old shopfronts stay the same.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes to walk around the square and look at the details. Plan longer if you want to browse the shops.
• Go in the morning for the quietest light and fewest crowds. In the evening the facades glow warmly.
• The square is open to walk through, but the hotel and boutiques are private businesses, so check current opening hours and visiting policies before you plan to go in.
• The Tuileries Garden, the Opéra Garnier and the Rue de la Paix are all within a short walk, so the square fits easily into a longer stroll.

See it on a quest

Coco Chanel's Paris passes through Place Vendôme as one stop on a longer walking route through the area. As you arrive, the app tells you about the place, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look closely at the square instead of just passing through. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.