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France
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris, carries a history steeped in political turmoil and architectural majesty. This grand plaza, spanning over 86,400 square meters, is situated between the Champs-Élysées to the west and the Tuileries Garden to the east, offering a spectacular panorama of the city's impressive landmarks.
The square's history traces back to 1755 when King Louis XV commissioned architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel to build an octagonal square as a tribute to his recovery from illness. Initially dubbed "Place Louis XV", the square's centerpiece was an equestrian statue of the monarch. However, the square's identity would dramatically change during the French Revolution. It was renamed "Place de la Révolution" and the statue of Louis XV was replaced with a guillotine, which famously executed King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, and thousands of others.
In 1795, in an attempt to disassociate the square from its bloody past, it was renamed "Place de la Concorde", symbolizing peace and harmony. The square's most iconic feature, the Luxor Obelisk, was added in 1836 - a gift from Egypt. Standing at 23 meters tall and weighing over 200 tons, this ancient Egyptian monument is over 3,300 years old and is inscribed with hieroglyphics depicting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II.
The square's exterior is characterized by two magnificent fountains inspired by the Roman fountains of St. Peter's Square in Rome – the Maritime Fountain to the south, symbolizing the maritime spirit of France, and the Fountain of the Rivers to the north, symbolizing the Rhône and the Rhine. The eight angles of the square house statues representing French cities: Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Brest, and Rouen.
While the Place de la Concorde doesn't have an 'interior' in the typical sense, it offers a central location from which to admire some of Paris's most iconic sights. From this vantage point, one can see the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Madeleine church.
Today, the Place de la Concorde is a must-see for anyone visiting Paris. It is not just a square, but a symbol of the city's turbulent history and its resilient spirit, a gathering place for celebrations, a hub of urban life, and an outdoor museum of French heritage.