It’s become a synonym for Parisian luxury, and it is located between the Tuileries Gardens and the Op\u00e9ra Garnier. From its birth it has had an air of grandeur. It is a can’t-miss stop for all tourists, here we will share four things you should know about the Place Vend\u00f4me in Paris.<\/p>\n

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1.It had a tumultuous past<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This mythical and harmonious square was commissioned by Louis XIV and gets its name from the landowner at the time, C\u00e9sar de Bourbon, Duke of Vend\u00f4me, a natural son of Henry IV. Initially it was a rectangular plaza, with a statue of the monarch on a horse in its center. The square became what it is today as different buildings were erected around; high-end buildings where rich noblemen lived.<\/p>\n

During the Revolution, the statue of Louis XIV was torn down. 20 years later Napoleon had a column built of 44 meters (144 feet), made with the molten lead from the canyons taken at enemy lines at the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1871, during the Paris Commune, the column was torn down by the initiative of the painter Gustave Coubert (who decided to exile himself to avoid repaying for the column). Today we can see a replica of the last version of the column.<\/p>\n

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2.It carries an iconic bejeweled history<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This square has a strong tradition of jewelry making dating back to 1700. Back then Chaumet<\/u><\/a> was already settled here and creating jewels for the courts of Europe (he was the official jeweler for Empress Jos\u00e9phine.) Later came Boucheron<\/u><\/a> in 1858 and after that Van Cleef & Arples<\/a><\/u>, Mauboussin<\/u><\/a>, Mikimoto<\/u><\/a> with its pearls, and the Italian Bulgari<\/u><\/a>. Jewelry stores can also be found along the iconic Rue de la Paix, where you can find the famous Cartier<\/u><\/a> Boutique, and across the plaza, on Rue Saint-Honor\u00e9, where you can also find Buccellati<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

Today you can also find master watchmakers like Rolex<\/u><\/a>, Piaget<\/u><\/a>, Patek Philippe<\/u><\/a> and Hublot<\/u><\/a> among others, as well as Chanel<\/u><\/a>, Dior<\/u><\/a> and Louis Vuitton<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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3.It houses a deluxe hotel, which further recognized it as a Luxury location<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It is considered one of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels in the world, the Hotel Ritz<\/u><\/a> was created by the Swiss hotelier C\u00e9sar Ritz, who wanted to create a hotel with all the magnificence fit for a Prince (quite the ambition!) This building cemented the vocation of this iconic plaza.<\/p>\n

It opened its doors in 1898, and it quickly became a hotel for famous writers, politicians, artists, intellectuals, designers, tycoons, and different personalities.<\/p>\n

Marcel Proust observed Parisian society from this hotel and wrote most of his work from there. Coco Chanel lived there until her death. Ernest Hemingway made it his general headquarters during his stays in Paris; one of the bars was even named after him.<\/p>\n

The Ritz was one of the last stops of Lady Di and her boyfriend Dodi-Al Fayed (whose father owned the hotel) before dying in Pont de l\u2019Alma, on August 30th 1997.<\/p>\n

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4.It hides some interesting facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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• Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Chopin lived and died in this plaza, where you can currently find Chaument (number 12 in the plaza). Sometimes, a few privileged clients of the jeweler get the pleasure of being invited to a private concert at Master Chopin\u00b4s old house.<\/li>\n
• It is said that Coco Chanel was inspired by the shape of this plaza to design her famous Premi\u00e8re watch. if you don\u00b4t know it yet, here it is<\/u><\/a>.<\/li>\n
• This square is also famous for its sober but very photogenic Chirstmas lights.\n