Place de la Concorde, Paris Overview

The Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in the French capital and one of the major squares in Paris, France. Located at the eastern end of the Champs-Elysees, the square is octagonal and is bordered by gardens, hotels, and emblematic statues on each angle.

Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel in 1755, it was the site of quite a few public executions that took place at the peak of the French Revolution. The two fountains, Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation, and the Maritime Fountain, that date back to the time of Louis-Philippe and the beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower on one side, and the River Seine along with it makes Place de la Concorde a must visit. It also contains the renowned Obelisk that dates back to ancient Egyptian times. There are magnificent attractions that are present near Place de la Concorde such as Palais Bourbon, Jeu de Paume, Roue de Paris, Tuileries Garden, and Musee de l’Orangerie. There are also many nearby attractions that are home to some of the most adventurous activities one can indulge in. From museums to special eateries and snack centres, the Place de la Concorde has it all. It can be experienced in many ways, and the best ones could be the Paris Bike Tour, the City on wheels tour, the River Seine dinner cruise and a lot more. The Place de la Concorde is associated with a lot of significant moments in the French Revolution and holds enough weight to its name in the history books of France.

Place de la Concorde Architecture and Design

Sculptures at Place de la Concorde — Source

The Place de la Concorde has the historical essence of 18th-century design and architectural style. It is a moat-skirted octagon that has a representative and illustrative statue along with each of the octagonal angles, which represent different French cities.

The two fountains that grace the square were designed on the themes of rivers and seas, partly because of their proximity to the Ministry of the Navy and the beautiful River Seine. Both the fountains are based on the same form which has a stone basin along with six figures of tritons based on the Greek mythology, six seated allegorical figures, and four statues representing genius in arts and crafts.

On the eastern side of the Place de la Concorde, are the Tuileries gardens. There are two art centres located in these gardens that border the place and accent it with a pre-modern vibe. The Obelisk that stands at the centre of the place is decorated with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that exalt the reign of the pharaoh Ramesses II and has a fountain on either side of it. The Place de la Concorde has a unique architecture in entirety and proves to be a central attraction for tourists.

Place de la Concorde History

The Place de la Concorde has a lot of history glued to it, prominently going back to the late-18th century of the time of the eminent French uprising, The French Revolution.

During the revolution, the Place de la Concorde went through a lot of changes. A major one of them was its renaming. After the statue of Louis XV of France was demolished, it was renamed the Place de la Revolution, and eventually, a guillotine was erected in the centre of the square. It was at the guillotine that the then king, King Louis XVI, was publicly executed in 1993. The execution of his wife and other significant members of the elite community followed.

The Place de la Concorde, after the death of Louis XVI, was renamed several times but ended up with the name that it started with. This history of this place cannot be complete without mentioning the history of the giant Obelisk that stands at the centre of it. The Obelisk is over 3000 years old and was given to King Louis Philippe by the ancient ruler of Ottoman Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha, in exchange for a mechanical clock. The Obelisk enriches the history and beauty of the Place de la Concorde.

Special Tours for Place de la Concorde

1. Paris Urban Adventures

The best way to experience Place de la Concorde is to go on different kinds of tours intended towards exploring the area in various fashions. Paris Urban Adventures offers a lot of these services. It offers multiple tours that include different landmarks and areas to explore and is recommended for tourists who want to embark on adventures aimed at discovering back streets, hidden gems, fascinating sights and exclusive streets like a local Parisian. It is rare to find about these streets and small stores on the internet.
Some of the tours available currently are -

A. Secret Paris: Cheese, Art and Local Life - Timings: Begins 9 AM / Price: EUR 64
B. Gourmet Marais - Timings: Begins 2 PM / Price: EUR 89
C. Tastes of the Left Bank - Timings: Begins 2 PM / Price: EUR 124

Timings: 9 AM - 7 PM
Price: EUR 35 - 150; official website at Paris Urban Adventures for the same.

2. Paris Golfette

When in Paris, enjoying Place de la Concorde can be enhanced by driving around the area on a golf car. The Paris Golfette is a personal tour that lets you ride in an electric caddy of your choice and enjoy a different kind of experience than regular tours. There are cars ranging from 2 seaters to 7 seaters. This tour also provides an opportunity to discover street golf at a 9-hole golf course in the city.

Timings: 12 AM - 11 PM
Price: EUR 60 - EUR 125 / Grand Chelem - EUR 200 (1-5 persons); official website at Paris-Golfette for the same.

3. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental

After hours of walking and curious exploration of the Place de la Concorde, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental provides an environment of relaxation and peace, facilitated by a collection of services such as private spa suites, wardrobe facilities, shower experiences and steam rooms. The couple suites also have a vitality pool for two. It is an ideal location for receiving a combination of revitalization and relaxation.

Timings: 9 AM - 9 PM
Price: EUR 250 - EUR 580; official website at Mandarin Oriental.

Art Galleries near Place De la Concorde

1. Musee de l'Orangerie

The Musee de l’Orangerie is an art gallery located in the west corner of the Tuileries gardens, next to the Place de la Concorde. It is primarily known for its impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, the most famous of which are the eight Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet. It also contains collections such as Walet and Guillame along with African Art. This art museum is a focal point for admirers and lovers of classical art.

Timings: 9 AM - 6 PM (except Tuesdays)
Price: EUR 9

2. Musee Art Nouveau

Maxim’s - Maxim’s Art Nouveau collection is a private collection of items and decor of Art Nouveau. Pierre Cardin, the owner, has collected objects for over 60 years, most of them dating back to the Belle Epoque 1900 period. More than 550 pieces from all over the world from designers such as Majorelle, Tiffany, Galle, Massier and others are displayed in a twelve-room apartment building, which is now considered a historical monument. Various recreations of different settings are presented as a part of this collection.

Timings: 2 PM - 4 PM
Price: EUR 15

Best Time to Visit Place de la Concorde

Keeping in mind that the Place de la Concorde is an entirely outdoor attraction, the warmer spring and summer months; April to June and September to November would be the ideal months to visit this place.

How To Reach Place de la Concorde

Hopping in a metro to the Concorde metro station (Lines 1, 8, 12) would be the most efficient way to get there. If you’re at a place without a metro station nearby, take the bus lines 42, 72 or 73 to bus stops Concorde or Cours de la Reine Concorde.