Place du Carrousel

Place du Carrousel is an open square situated between two major wings of the Louvre Museum and connects various gardens and courtyards. The paved surface is bordered by historic buildings and modern museum structures, with a monumental arch visually dominating the space.

The square received its name in 1662 when King Louis XIV organized a military equestrian display to celebrate the birth of his son. The triumphal arch was later built between 1806 and 1808 as a monument to Napoleon's military victories.

The triumphal arch in the center appears as a symbol of Napoleonic power and draws visitors with its neoclassical architecture. The surrounding paths connect different museum wings and create spaces where people stroll and admire the surroundings.

The square offers multiple access points to the Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, and Palais Royal with good pedestrian pathways between them. The surface is paved and relatively level, making navigation straightforward, though it can become crowded during busy times.

A tragic chapter unfolded here during the French Revolution when a guillotine operated from August 1792 to May 1793. This dark moment in history remains part of the square's memory, though few visitors are aware of it.

Location: 1st arrondissement of Paris

Location: Paris

Location: Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois

Inception: 1662

Part of: road network of Paris

Shares border with: quai François-Mitterrand, rue de Rivoli, rue de Rohan, Pont du Carrousel

GPS coordinates: 48.86144,2.33412

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:08