Place Vendôme

Overview

Place Vendôme is the absolute epicenter of extreme global luxury. It is an impeccably designed, perfectly octagonal square known worldwide for housing the most exclusive high-jewellery boutiques on earth and the legendary Ritz Paris hotel.

Highlights

• The Architecture: A breathtakingly uniform, symmetrical masterpiece of 17th-century urban design, featuring grand arcades, Corinthian pilasters, and steep slate roofs.
• The Vendôme Column: A towering, 44-metre bronze column sitting squarely in the center, wrapped in a spiraling bronze bas-relief made from melted-down enemy cannons.
• Jewellery Houses: Walk the perimeter to visually window-shop at the global flagships of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, and Chaumet.

History

Laid out in 1699, the facades were incredibly constructed entirely before any actual buildings existed behind them—the King simply sold the empty lots behind the imposing facades to wealthy nobles. The central column was erected by Napoleon to celebrate his staggering victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.

Visitor Tips

• Window Shopping: Unless you are in the market for a million-dollar diamond, the square is best enjoyed for its visual grandeur rather than active shopping.
• The Ritz: Hemingway's famous Bar Hemingway inside the Ritz is a magnificent, albeit extremely expensive, place for a classic cocktail.
• Duration: 15–20 minutes.