Place de la Révolution

A central public space where significant events occurred during the upheaval.

Place de la Révolution was a public square in Paris, known for hosting various political events during the French Revolution. It was originally named Place Louis-XV (after King Louis XV) until the revolutionaries renamed it in 1792. The square was the site of many guillotine executions, including those of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, representing a shift in power and ideology in France. The area played a role in the atmosphere of political unrest, as it was a gathering point for citizens. In later years, it was renamed Place de la Concorde.

Place de la Révolution, formerly known as Place Louis XV, was an essential location during the French Revolution. Located in Paris, it became the site of numerous significant events that marked the period. On 10 August 1792, this square, alongside the Tuileries Palace, was a focal point during the insurrection that led to the fall of the monarchy. 

On 21 January 1793, Place de la Révolution hosted the execution of King Louis XVI. This event symbolized the definitive end of the monarchy in France. An especially notable feature of the square during this time was the guillotine, commonly associated with the Reign of Terror (1793-1794). The Reign of Terror saw many executions of those deemed enemies of the revolution, with Place de la Révolution serving as the primary site for these public executions.

Prominent figures such as Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday, and Maximilien Robespierre were also executed here. The guillotine’s repeated use demonstrated the revolutionary government's brutal approach to maintaining control and eliminating opposition. The executions were highly public spectacles, intended both as punishment and as a deterrent to counter-revolutionary activities.

Following the end of the Reign of Terror, the square was renamed Place de la Concorde in 1795, in an effort to symbolize peace and reconciliation. Today, Place de la Concorde remains a major public square in Paris. It is marked by an Egyptian obelisk and has evolved from its grim revolutionary past to become a prominent landmark and tourist attraction in the modern era.

Did you know?

The Place de la Révolution, located in Paris, was renamed Place de la Concorde in 1795; this change symbolized a desire for peace following the tumultuous years of the Revolution.
Previously known as the Place Louis XV, its transformation into a revolutionary square involved a public demonstration of power, featuring guillotines that executed over 1,300 people during the Reign of Terror.
At the center of the Place de la Révolution stood a monument to the King (a statue of Louis XVI), which was dismantled and replaced with a guillotine, reflecting the radical shift in ideology.
The square was not just a site of executions; it became a gathering place for revolutionary celebrations, such as the Festival of the Federation on 14 July 1790, which commemorated the unity of the French people.
Even after its renaming, the Place de la Révolution continued to host noteworthy events; the first large-scale public display of the Republic's power (featuring triumphal arches and monuments) took place here, influencing modern Parisian urban planning.