Place Vendome: Where Luxury Was Born

How to Complete

3 steps to experience this fully

1. 📜 1

   Circle the Column

   history Free

   Start at the Vendome Column in the center. Napoleon stands on top, dressed as a Roman emperor. The column is made from 1,200 Austrian and Russian cannons captured at Austerlitz (1805). Circle it counterclockwise - the bronze spiral tells the story of the campaign.

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2. ⛰️ 2

   Count the Jewelry Houses

   adventure Free

   Walk the square's perimeter. Count the jewelry houses: Boucheron (#26, oldest since 1893), Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, Cartier. Notice: most are at #12-26. The octagonal shape inspired Coco Chanel's N°5 cap (1921). She lived at the Ritz across the square.

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3. ⛰️ 3

   Photograph the Ritz at Dusk

   adventure Free

   End at #15 - the Ritz Paris entrance. Wait for dusk when the facade lights up. This is where Hemingway "liberated" the bar in 1944, where Coco Chanel lived for 34 years, where Princess Diana had her last meal. Photograph it. Tomorrow we go inside.

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