Original equestrian statue 1639 (≈ 1639)
First statue of Louis XIII in bronze.
1682
Creation of the garden
Creation of the garden 1682 (≈ 1682)
First garden closed around the statue.
1783
Planting of lime trees
Planting of lime trees 1783 (≈ 1783)
Linen of linden added to the garden.
1789-1799
Revolutionary destruction
Revolutionary destruction 1789-1799 (≈ 1794)
Statue and garden destroyed during the Revolution.
1825 ou 1829
New equestrian statue
New equestrian statue 1825 ou 1829 (≈ 1829)
Installation of the present statue by Dupacy and Cortot.
1954
Historical classification
Historical classification 1954 (≈ 1954)
Square listed as a historic monument on October 26.
1976
Renovation of the square
Renovation of the square 1976 (≈ 1976)
Replacement of trees by Crimean lime trees.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Louis XIII - King of France (1601-1643)
Equestrian statue in his effigy.
Charles Dupaty - Sculptor
Co-author of the current equestrian statue.
Jean-Pierre Cortot - Sculptor and fountain architect
Author of fountains and co-author of the statue.
Origin and history
The square Louis-XIII, located in the centre of Place des Vosges in Paris, is the largest green space in the 4th arrondissement. Ranked a historic monument since 1954, it extends over 12,706 m2 and is distinguished by its four fountains fed by Ourcq, its lawns and its equestrian statue of Louis XIII, the work of sculptors Charles Dupacy and Jean-Pierre Cortot. Served by the metro stations Chemin Vert and Bastille, it embodies an emblematic place of Parisian heritage.
The history of the square dates back to 1639, with the initial installation of an equestrian statue of Louis XIII in bronze, destroyed during the French Revolution. In 1682 a first fenced garden was built around this statue, followed in 1783 by the planting of lime trees. In the 19th century, the square was reconstituted with the current fountains and a new equestrian statue, installed between 1825 and 1829. In 1976, a major renovation replaced the trees with Crimean linden and Indian chestnut trees.
The square's name pays tribute to Louis XIII (1601-1643), king of France, whose statue still dominates space. Its evolution reflects the historical upheavals of Paris, from its creation under the Ancien Régime to its successive transformations, especially after the revolutionary destructions. Today, there remains an architectural and landscaped testimony of the eras that marked the capital.
The square Louis-XIII is inseparable from the Place des Vosges, former Place Royale, and is a place for walking and relaxation in the heart of the Marais. Its classification among historical monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its layout and for the works of art that it houses, such as the fountains of Cortot or the statue of Dupacy and Cortot.
