The original Vendôme Column at the centre of the square was erected by Napoleon I to commemorate the Battle of Austerlitz; it was torn down on 16 May 1871, by decree of the Paris Commune, but subsequently re-erected and remains a prominent feature on the square today.

The July Column (French: Colonne de Juillet) is a monumental column in Paris commemorating the Revolution of 1830. It stands in the center of the Place de la Bastille and celebrates the Trois Glorieuses — the 'three glorious' days of 27–29 July 1830 that saw the fall of Charles X, King of France , and the commencement of the July Monarchy ...

Forty-two metres tall, the column was crowned with a statue commissioned from Chaudet of The Emperor in Roman dress. The statue was taken down by the Allies in 1814 and replaced during the Restoration by a flag bearing fleurs de lys.

The statue of Napoleon as the ‘little corporal’ was not put in storage but rather placed at the centre of the rond-point Courbevoie, just on the other side of the Place de l’Etoile, the site of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Tragically, both the column and statue were destroyed during the Paris Commune of 1871, orchestrated by the painter Gustave Courbet. Despite Courbet’s efforts, a new column was erected during the Third Republic, funded by the painter himself.

Feb 28, 2020 · Like in Rome, the Parisian column features a spiralling bas-relief: 425 plates of bronze have been sculpted from the drafts of Pierre Bergeret and depict the whole campaign of Austerlitz (1806), from the Boulogne Camp to the return of Napoleon and his victorious army to Paris on January 27, 1806.

Just a few minutes' walk from the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens, the Vendôme Column stands in the centre of the Place Vendôme, a symbol of luxury throughout the world and a major site of the French Revolution.

Symbols of power in the heart of the capital, the royal squares of Paris have always been politically hijacked. Place Vendôme and its famous column is one of the most famous examples. From the first statue to the current column, what a palaver !

Apr 26, 2024 · The Colonne Vendôme is a bronze column serving as a war memorial, adorned with bas-relief carvings and crowned by a statue of Napoleon. Its historical significance as a war memorial and the intricate bas-relief carvings make it a unique and must-see attraction.

Jul 4, 2023 · Adorned with bas-reliefs depicting battle scenes and surmounted by a bronze statue of Napoleon as a Roman emperor, this column is a real artistic gem. Apart from its impressive aesthetics, the Vendôme column also has a unique historical significance.