© DR Henri Garat
At the corner of a street or at the end of a boulevard, squares (places in French) are everywhere in Paris. In fact, the capital accounts for no less than 479!
Renowned for their elegance, Parisian squares have a distinguishing feature: a fountain, a history, a column ... Let’s begin with the Place de la Concorde – perhaps the greatest of all – and the wonderful perspective it offers of the Champs Elysées and the Place Charles de Gaulle. To admire the architectural wonders of another age, the Place de l’Opéra affords a splendid view of the lavish and eclectic opera house by Charles Garnier, which is in stark contrast to the modern architecture of the opera house in Place de la Bastille.
For a spot of tranquillity, the Place Dauphine and the Place des Vosges are architectural gems and pleasant places to picnic. Contemporary art buffs will love the Place Igor Stravinsky with its fountain designed by the artist couple Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint-Phalle, the works of street art, and the view of the famous Centre Pompidou. For a luxury shopping trip, the Place Vendôme is known for high-end jewellery houses and fashion houses and of course its landmark bronze column. Over in Montmartre, the Place du Tertre, just below the Sacré Coeur is a unique picturesque and bustling spot in Paris, full of painters and drawers and their easels.
And to end in style, the Place du Trocadéro commands a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-de-Mars.
