Place Vendôme
An Epicenter of Luxury and History
César de Vendôme gave us the name of one of the most sumptuous squares in the world: Place Vendôme,
where France's most illustrious luxury houses converge.
Until the French Revolution, Place Vendôme remained the symbol of financial success, welcoming collectors, bibliophiles and scholars to its private mansions, all driven by the intellectual and cultural development of the Age of Enlightenment.
The Marquis de Marigny, brother of Madame de Pompadour and Director General of the King's Buildings, lived at number 8, while Jacques Paulze, farmer-general and father-in-law of the famous chemist Antoine Lavoisier, lived at number 6.
Napoleon III occupied the Hôtel du Rhin (no. 4) in 1848, before his election to the presidency of the Republic, and Eugénie de Montijo and her mother resided in the Hôtel Paulze at no. 6 in 1851.
In the second half of the 19th century, Place Vendôme established itself as the epicenter of Parisian fashion, a journey through luxury and supreme elegance.
In 1858, Charles Frederick Worth , the inventor of haute couture, opened a boutique at 7 rue de la Paix, attracting other renowned couturiers, milliners, bootmakers and perfumers to the area.
It was against this backdrop that Louis Vuitton set up shop in the neighborhood, offering his trunk-making services to the elite of the day.
Thanks to Eugénie de Montijo, future empress and loyal customer, Louis Vuitton opened his own boutique in 1854, contributing, along with other craftsmen and entrepreneurs, to the building of this emblematic site.
Place Vendôme, along with Place des Victoires, Place de la Concorde, Place des Vosges and Place Dauphine, is one of the five royal squares of Paris, each an architectural marvel and a dream for lovers of history and architectural grace.