Place des Victoires

This circular square straddling two arrondissements was laid out in the 17th century to glorify the military triumphs of Louis XIV, whose equestrian statue stands at its centre. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the uniform curved facades were built to frame the royal monument, though the original statue was destroyed during the Revolution and later replaced. Today the elegant ring of buildings houses fashion boutiques, and the square remains a fine example of the ceremonial urbanism of the Grand Siècle.