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Key figures

Origin and history

Place du Palais-Royal is an emblematic square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, created in 1648 after the demolition of the Hotel de Sillery. Initially bounded by the Rue Froidmanteau and Rue Saint-Thomas-du-Louvre, it extended outside the Palais Royal, from which it derives its name. Its development was marked by ambitious urban projects, such as the construction of the Château d'eau du Palais-Royal between 1714 and 1719, designed by Robert de Cotte under the leadership of Philippe d'Orléans and financed by the King's Buildings.

In 1769, the square was enlarged to the west by the destruction of buildings adjacent to the Fifteen Wing Hospital, with strict rules for new stone-cut constructions. Despite plans to destroy the water tower, it remained until 1848, when it was burned during the revolutionary riots. The square took its present form in the 19th century, with the extension of Rue de Rivoli and the construction of uniform arcade buildings, including the Louvre Hotel and the Louvre department stores (now the Louvre des Antiquaires in 1978).

The square is also a place full of cultural and political history. It was the scene of confrontations in 1848 and houses traces of Parisian theatrical life, such as the room of the Petit Cardinal, where Molière played The Imaginary Sick before extinguishing there in 1673. The Louvre des Antiquaires, located in the former Grands Magasins, has been hosting specialized shops since 1978, before leaving room in 2025 for the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art, renovated by Jean Nouvel.

Among the notable anecdotes, the square served as a setting for literary works, such as the ninety-three by Victor Hugo, which places a revolutionary scene there. It was also the starting point of the 1950 Tour de France, launched by Orson Welles, and a filming venue for the Black Baron series in 2020. These elements illustrate its central role in Parisian life, between architectural heritage, historical events and popular culture.

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