Colonne Vendôme

Colonne Vendôme is a bronze monument in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. The column rises 44 meters (145 feet) above the square and carries a spiraling depiction of military events that winds upward.

Napoleon ordered the column built in 1810, using melted cannons captured at the Battle of Austerlitz. The column was torn down in 1871 and rebuilt three years later.

The name Vendôme refers to the square that was laid out in the 17th century for Louis XIV and later became the site for this column. The bronze relief shows soldiers, battles, and military movements in a continuous narrative that wraps around the entire surface.

The square lies centrally in the 1st arrondissement and is easily reached by several metro lines. The facades of the surrounding buildings frame the open view of the column.

The monument was dismantled in 1871 by the painter Gustave Courbet, who rejected it as a symbol of war. Courbet later had to pay for the reconstruction, which ruined him financially and drove him into exile.

Location: 1st arrondissement of Paris

Inception: 1800s

Architects: Jean-Baptiste Lepère, Jacques Gondouin

Height: 44.3 m

Made from material: bronze

Address: Place Vendôme

GPS coordinates: 48.86747,2.32941

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:48