Place des Victoires – Victories Square
Ce point d’intérêt est disponible en audio dans le circuit: Visit Paris, From the Mona Lisa to the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Though less well known than other royal squares, the Place des Victoires is a beautiful circular square flanked by Louis XIV-style townhouses, all of which are listed as historical monuments. It was built to commemorate Louis XIV and his military victories, hence its name. A grand statue of the Sun King, crushing Cerberus, once stood at the center. It commemorated his victory over the Quadruple Alliance. For those of you who are not into Greek mythology, Cerberus is a three-headed dog guarding the gates of Hell. Now, if you’re more of a Harry Potter fan, you probably know that Cerberus guards the Philosopher’s Stone in the books and movies. But back to the Quadruple Alliance! In case you didn’t know, the latter was an alliance formed by the Netherlands, Austria, Lorraine and the Spanish Catholic monarchy against the kingdom of France. Long story short, they were four against one, but they still lost. But we’re stating the obvious, considering you’re standing in the so-called Victories Square! You’ll find many of the decorative elements of the aforementioned statue in the courtyard of the Louvre. Louis XIV and Cerberus were melted down during the French Revolution to make cannons, and replaced by a wooden obelisk bearing the names of those who died on August 10, 1792. It’s like a second Bastille Day here, as it was a turning point in the French Revolution. Today, there’s a new statue of Louis XIV showing the king dressed as a Roman emperor, barefoot on a rearing horse. It was unveiled in 1822 and is now listed as a historical monument.
Découvrez d’autres circuits pour visiter Paris
Découvrez Paris avec l’application navaway®
An interactive guide through the most beautiful streets, squares, and districts
22 fun audioguides full of historical facts, anecdotes, and legends
Comments