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Place Vendôme

 

"The day passed, and next afternoon Loretto and I went across the river to the American Express, then loafed around the Place Vendome and the Madeleine. It was supposed to be Cocteau’s neighbourhood. We had seen photographs of his hands in so many store windows we joked about recognizing him on the street by his hands. The violent contrast between the elegant Frenchwomen coming out of the little shops and the black-stockinged plainly dressed working girls fascinated us."

After an odd first meeting with Scott Fitzgerald, Loretto and Morley feel 'restless' (Callaghan 1996) as they wander around a section of Paris that has been unchartered territory for them so far. Built in 1702, Place Vendome was built by Jules Hardoin-Mansart, the same architect that designed the Palace of Versailles. The square is known for being shaped like an octagon - with the startling Vendome Column at its centre. Napoleon had the column built in the nineteenth century to mark the victory of the Battle of Austerlitz.Intricate illustrations by painter and designer Bergeret are wound around the column, depicting the 'major events of the campaign' (Huguenad 2012).

Today considered a location of 'luxury', the Vendome has housed hotels like Park Hyatt and the Ritz. In fact, so popular is this place, that a 1998 movie was named after it!

 

Works cited.

Huguenad, Karine. 'Vendome Column', November 28, 2012, http://www.napoleon.org/en/magazine/museums/files/Vendome_Column.asp.

Place Vendome - Paris. Accessed November 28, 2012. http://www.paris.com/paris_landmarks/monuments/place_venodome.