Colonne de Vendome (Vendome Column), Paris
On December 2, 1804, Napoleon I was crowned Emperor of the French, and upon his return from a victorious campaign in Germany in 1805, he emerged triumphant in the Battle of Austerlitz on December 2 (precisely one year after his coronation) against Emperor Francis I of Austria and Tsar Alexander I. In January 1806, he resolved to dedicate the column on Place Vendôme to his Grande Armée ("Great Army"), constructed with the bronze of enemy cannons.
The architects Jean-Baptiste Lepère and Jacques Gondouin envisaged a 44-meter-high column composed of a stone shaft, onto which bronze plates were affixed. Numbering 425, they coiled upwards in a spiral towards the statue's feet. This curious concept rendered it impossible to behold all the reliefs at once.
Pierre-Nolasque Bergeret, a painter, was commissioned to sketch scenes from the Emperor's campaign, including the encampment in Boulogne-sur-Mer facing England, the army's departure, the battles, and the Emperor's homecoming at the head of his Guard on January 26, 1806. Execution of the sketches was entrusted to a group of approximately ten sculptors.
A statue of Napoleon, bare-headed, crowned with laurels and holding a sword in his right hand and a globe surmounted with a statue of Victory in his left hand, was placed atop the column.
The architects Jean-Baptiste Lepère and Jacques Gondouin envisaged a 44-meter-high column composed of a stone shaft, onto which bronze plates were affixed. Numbering 425, they coiled upwards in a spiral towards the statue's feet. This curious concept rendered it impossible to behold all the reliefs at once.
Pierre-Nolasque Bergeret, a painter, was commissioned to sketch scenes from the Emperor's campaign, including the encampment in Boulogne-sur-Mer facing England, the army's departure, the battles, and the Emperor's homecoming at the head of his Guard on January 26, 1806. Execution of the sketches was entrusted to a group of approximately ten sculptors.
A statue of Napoleon, bare-headed, crowned with laurels and holding a sword in his right hand and a globe surmounted with a statue of Victory in his left hand, was placed atop the column.
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Colonne de Vendome (Vendome Column) on Map
Sight Name: Colonne de Vendome (Vendome Column)
Sight Location: Paris, France (See walking tours in Paris)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Paris, France (See walking tours in Paris)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Paris, France
Create Your Own Walk in Paris
Creating your own self-guided walk in Paris is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Champs-Elysees Walking Tour
On this self-guided walk you will witness the grandeur of the 8th arrondissement of the French capital – one of its busiest and chic neighborhoods, thanks to the presence of Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Concorde.
Your best plan would be to start with the Triumphal Arch and walk up to its viewing area for great sights down the Champs-Élysées – a lovely... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Your best plan would be to start with the Triumphal Arch and walk up to its viewing area for great sights down the Champs-Élysées – a lovely... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Eiffel Tower Walking Tour
The 7th administrative district of Paris, a beacon of affluence and prestige, hosts an elite residential community and numerous national institutions of France, government offices, and diplomatic missions. This historical neighborhood is famed for its quintessentially Parisian architecture, vibrant cafés, restaurants, and gourmet shops that attract food enthusiasts from around the world.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Latin Quarter Walking Tour
The Latin Quarter of Paris, nestled on the Left Bank of the Seine, is a district steeped in academic history and artistic fervor, resonating with the echoes of scholarly discourse and bohemian lifestyle. This venerable area derives its name from the early use of Latin as the lingua franca in the universities, a tradition spearheaded by the Sorbonne University. This institution has shaped... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Souvenirs Shopping Walk
Being one of the world's premier shopping destinations, the French capital attracts thousands of shopaholics every year. Even those who hate shopping, enjoy doing it here. Renowned for its luxury and sophistication, Paris is a great place for finding unique and elegant souvenirs to cherish. Here are some must-visit places for souvenir shopping in the City of Light.
Lafayette Galleries... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles
Lafayette Galleries... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles
Paris Introduction Walking Tour I
Paris, the capital of France, has a history spanning over 2,000 years back to the Iron Age. The name “Paris” comes from the Parisii, a Gallic tribe that settled on the bank of the river Seine around the 3rd century BC. Having conquered the Galls, the Romans established on their land a garrison town known as Lutetia. By the end of the 5th century AD, it fell to the Franks and flourished under... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.1 Km or 3.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.1 Km or 3.2 Miles
Paris Introduction Walking Tour II
As you continue your acquaintance with Paris driven by its timeless allure, the city's heart reveals itself with an array of places capturing its profound history and artistic legacy. The evolution of Paris is visible on the banks of the river Seine, the linking thread winding its way through the capital as if keeping a watchful eye on its architectural marvels.
The second part of our... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
The second part of our... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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