Travel Tips

Initially, the Place was dedicated at the tournaments.
In 1559, the King Henry the 2nd asked, after several fights, his Scottish Guard Commander, Montgomery, to do a last assault. Unfortunately, the spear of Montgomery broke and a piece of wood penetrated in the helmet and wounded the King at the eye. He died 10 days later.
It was decided to stop the tournaments and to build 36 pavilions around the square Place, called Place Royale.
The construction began in 1605 and finished in 1612.
In 1800, it was named Place des Vosges in memory of the first department (Vosges are in the East of France) which had payed all its tax.
Some decades ago, the pavilions were sold for few with the condition to restore them in the style.
For this reason, you do not need a great imagination to see Dartagnan followed by the Three Musketeers entering in a building of the Place.
The place is in the Marais area (métro : St Paul)

I propose you a game : put in the good order the pictures messed up by VT.

Louis the 16th tried to leave France as La Fayette did, but he was arrested at Varenne in the East of the country.
After a parody of trial, he was guillotined in January 1793.
(painting at the Carnavalet Museum)

To discover by yourself.

Very pretty and coloured lamps in this shop specialized in "pate de verre" lamps.
Even it is expensive, the visit worths to be done.
(41 rue des Francs Bourgeois)

At the corner with the rue Vieille du Temple, the Hérouët Hotel and its famous turret.
Built in 1510, it is an example of the ogival art which preceeded the Renaissance.

This way gives an idea of the Middle Age streets : ancient houses, paving stone.
When you see it, you understand the meaning of the French and English word : Cul de sac.
Here the Duke of Orléans has been murdered by the Burguignons in 1407 during the War between the French King of England and the King of France. He was surprised by servants of Jean Sans Peur (John Without Fear) when I was back at his hotel by night.

On the photo, a national financial Cy which lends money.
Previouly, it was the "Mont de Piété", an institution doing pawnbrokerage.
In the 19° Century, a member of the royal family who gambled and lost plenty of money, left a magnific watch to pay his debt. When somebody asked him where was his watch, he answered : "Oh, I forgot it by my aunt".
The name is remained.

We have reached the end of the rue des Francs Bourgeois at 500 meters from the Place des Vosges.
At the number 60 there are the Archives nationales which gather several ancient and new buildings which are situated at the corner with the rue des Archives (on the photo).
Here are conserved the archives of France : documents from ministers, old parchments, files of lawyers, personal files of state agents, etc.... Several hundreds of kilometers of files are managed by computer and you can order the documents from your home (by Minitel) or from the Archives PC.
It is a mine for the historian and the genealogist (see cultural tip on the Paris page). It is free but it needs time and French knowledge.
It is also a history museum with exibitions of ancient documents (for specialized persons only).
The closest metro is Rambuteau.
If you are by car, I recommend to begin the tour here and to park rue des 4 Fils (behind the Archives Nationales) or at the public parking of the Centre Georges Pompidou.

A walk below the arcades is a good way to have a precise idea of the Place. Some curious shops are also interesting and you can stop your "promenade" in a restaurant or in a coffee shop.
Look at the Pavillon du Roi in front of the Louis 13°'s statue and the Pavillon de la Reine on the opposite part of the Place.

The current statue was erected in 1825 to replace the initial one of 1639 destroyed during the Revolution.
Every French King has a nickname. Louis 13° was called the Victorious because he was helped by an exceptional man : the Cardinal of Richelieu who was better than the caracter of the Three Musketeers. He was the first French prime minister to have a modern concept of the State.
Initially, the horse must have an other rider. It is too big for Louis 13° and it does not suit. I do not agree with this opinion.
Come to Paris and make your own advise.

Called "Freemen" Street in memory of citizens of Middle Age who lived here without be taxed. Unfortunatly, this was abandonned.
From the Place des Vosges, go on this narrow ancient street to the West.
There are old mansions with decorated frontage. You find also odd shops vending clothes or art things. They are opened on Sunday morning.
It is one of my prefered Sunday promenades.

20 rue de Francs Bourgeois : it is a toys shop, a book trade and also a ... restaurant.
Go upstair to discover the paradise of toys.

Everything you dream is in the shop.

Buy clothes by the baker it is possible Rue des Francs Bourgeois.
The shopfront is classified because its painting is appreciate as beautiful. The current shopkeeper can sell what he wants but he has to keep unchanged the building.
There is an other example (a baker too) in the same street.

See the Paris Page to have the address of Carnavalet Museum.
It is an example of ancient shop sign (19° Century).
Previously, the signs are the mean to identify an address. For example : Mr GUYON Parish St Eustache, at the left of the "Chat qui pèche" (Fishing cat).
Some streets have kept the name of a shop identified by its sign (an example on Ile St Louis Travelogue)

The General La Fayette Paris National Guard Commander taking an oath at the Homeland at the beginning of the French Revolution.
Fortunatly, few time later, he left France to keep his head on his shoulders.
(Painting at the Carnavalet Museum)