Audio GuidePlace de la Concorde
Major public square, scene of executions, decorated with fountains, statues & an Egyptian obelisk.
Landmark
Paris, France
Welcome to Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris and one of its most historic sites. Located in the eighth arrondissement, it sits gracefully between the famous Champs-Élysées, the Tuileries Garden, and the River Seine. Originally designed in the mid-eighteenth century by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel as Place Louis XV, the square has seen many transformations that mirror France’s dramatic history.
During the French Revolution, the square became a site of public executions, including those of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Later renamed Place de la Concorde to mark a new era of reconciliation, it now offers a place to reflect on the past while enjoying its impressive surroundings.
At its center stands the ancient Luxor Obelisk, thousands of years old and gifted to France by Muhammad Ali Pasha. The obelisk, crowned with a golden pyramidion, is flanked by two grand fountains and reinforced by statues symbolizing major French cities. Neoclassical buildings, once home to royal institutions, now enhance the square’s elegant atmosphere.
Today, Place de la Concorde serves as a backdrop for national ceremonies, celebrations, and modern events such as military parades and international sports competitions. It is a vibrant link between the royal grandeur of the past and Paris’s contemporary urban life, inviting every visitor to become part of its living history.
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