The Place des Vosges, in the Marais (4th arrondissement), is the oldest royal square in Paris. Commissioned by Henri IV in 1605 and completed in 1612, it forms a square of red-brick and white-stone pavilions built over arcades. In the middle, the Square Louis XIII offers benches in the shade of lime and chestnut trees. Access to the square is free.
Highlights
The pavilions and arcades
The brick and stone façades under slate roofs repeat on all four sides of the square. Walk beneath the arcades: they house galleries, shops and cafés, and they give the best view of the whole ensemble.
The Square Louis XIII
More than a hundred and fifty Crimean lime trees and horse chestnuts surround the equestrian statue of Louis XIII. Four fountains, created by Ménager in 1840, punctuate the garden.
Victor Hugo’s house
The writer lived at no. 6 on the square, and his apartment is now a museum: see the Maison de Victor Hugo. Madame de Sévigné is also among the square’s famous residents.
Practical info
Tips
The square itself is open at all hours. The Square Louis XIII garden has seasonal opening hours: from 1 to 24 October 2026 it opened at 8am on weekdays and 9am at weekends, and closed at 7:30pm (hours seen on paris.fr). Animals are not allowed. Extend your walk into the nearby Marais.
How to get there
Metro Saint-Paul (line 1), Chemin Vert (line 8) or Bastille (lines 1, 5 and 8), then a few minutes on foot. Address: place des Vosges, 75004 Paris; the Square Louis XIII is at no. 30.
Opening hours
Nearby
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