Place Dauphine

Tucked onto the western tip of the Île de la Cité behind the Pont Neuf, this triangular square was created in the early 17th century under Henri IV and named for the future Louis XIII. Its brick-and-stone houses enclose a quiet, tree-shaded space that feels remote from the surrounding city. Long a haunt of writers and artists, it retains a village-like calm within the historic heart of Paris. The surviving original facades and the intimate proportions make it one of the capital's most cherished corners.