Place de la Concorde

The Place de la Concorde was designed in 1753 by Jacques Ange Gabriel in honor of King Louis XV. It houses the very guillotine which ended the life of Marie Antoinette.

The Luxor Obelisk donated to Louis-Philippe by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1831 sits at the center of the square. Around the square, there are eight large statues symbolizing France’s most important cities. Here, Marie Antoinette was guillotined on October 13, 1793 at 38 years of age.

The obelisk comes from Luxor, one ancient Egypt’s premier cities built in the 13th century BC, and was originally an homage to the Pharaoh Ramses II.

Every time I pass through this square, I can’t help but just stop and soak in the chaos. It is surely one of the busiest squares in Paris and woe to the tourist who attempts to drive through!

Yet, it’s a real pleasure for pedestrians. Arriving from the Place Vendome and seeing the Eiffel Tower in the background and the Tuileries