SoloSights

One of the largest and most famous squares in Paris – but are you really looking?

Place de la Concorde is the kind of place you might pass through quickly. You spot the iconic obelisk, maybe snap a few photos of the fountains, and then move on toward the Champs-Élysées or the Tuileries Gardens. But behind the square’s classic beauty are stories, symbols, and details that most visitors overlook.

Here are five things you probably miss when visiting Place de la Concorde – and that might just change the way you see this place forever.

1. The statues representing eight French cities

Scattered across the square are eight allegorical statues, each a female figure representing a French city. They stand for: Bordeaux, Brest, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, and Strasbourg.

Fun fact: These statues symbolize the unity of France – placed during a time when that unity was far from guaranteed.

2. The obelisk tells stories – if you can read the symbols

The 23-meter tall obelisk comes from the Luxor Temple in Egypt and is over 3,000 years old. Look closely at the hieroglyphs: they praise Pharaoh Ramses II and his deeds.

Extra detail: Beside the obelisk, you’ll notice a metal plaque. It illustrates the complex system used to transport the monument from Egypt to Paris in the 19th century – a logistical masterpiece!

3. The fountains were inspired by Rome

The two grand fountains are modeled after those on Rome’s Piazza San Pietro. The northern fountain celebrates the rivers of France, such as the Rhône and the Rhine. The southern one honors the sea and maritime trade.

Take a closer look: The sculptures are full of symbols representing 19th-century France – fishing, commerce, agriculture – all cast in bronze.

4. You’re standing on the stage of the guillotine

What now seems like a peaceful square was once the center of revolutionary violence. During the French Revolution, a guillotine was set up here where over 1,000 people were executed, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette.

Not visible, but chilling: The guillotine stood slightly west of the obelisk. If you’re nearby, you’re literally standing on a site of history.

5. A Secret Message Under Your Feet

At the foot of the Obelisk, a bronze medallion is sealed into the pavement. Look closely and you’ll find a mysterious inscription: “Au levant de Thèbes surgit à Paris le nord.” It sounds cryptic, but it simply tells the story of how the Obelisk was rotated a quarter turn during its installation in Paris — the side that once faced east in Thebes now faces north in Paris. Bonus detail: the medallion marks the exact spot where the Obelisk’s shadow falls at noon on the summer solstice!

More than a pass-through spot

Place de la Concorde isn’t just a pretty square – it’s an open-air museum. Look a little closer and you’ll uncover layers of history, symbolism, and storytelling.

Next time you’re there: take five minutes, do a slow 360, and look both up and down. Suddenly, Paris looks different.