Audio GuideColonne Vendôme
Bronze column standing as a war memorial, with bas-relief carvings topped by a statue of Napoleon.
Tourist Attraction
Paris, France
The Vendôme Column, standing at the center of Place Vendôme in Paris, is a powerful symbol of French military history and evolving political eras. Commissioned by Napoleon the First between eighteen oh six and eighteen ten, the monument was built to honor his victories, especially the famous Battle of Austerlitz. Inspired by Trajan’s Column in Rome, this bronze-covered structure is made of dressed stone and comprises ninety-eight drums that encircle a spiral staircase of one hundred eighty steps leading to a platform beneath the statue.
Originally crowned by a statue of Napoleon by Antoine Denis Chaudet, the figure was later replaced. The current statue, created during the Second Empire by Auguste Dumont, depicts the emperor in a Roman toga with a sword and the globe of victory. These changes in the monument’s top mirror France’s shifting political climates, such as its daring toppling during the Paris Commune, when it symbolized rejection of imperial authority. Rebuilt under Marshal MacMahon and further restored in recent years with support from the Hôtel Ritz, the Vendôme Column now boasts intricate bronze bas-reliefs that vividly portray battle scenes and trophies.
Located in an elegant square once dedicated to Louis the Fourteenth, this historic monument is a must-see destination for visitors seeking art, history, and the enduring charm of Parisian heritage.
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