“The oldest planned square in Paris, they say,” a woman muttered, adjusting her beret as she glanced around Rue des Vosges. Rue des Vosges, originally known as Place Royale, whispers tales of kings, queens, and revolutions. This perfectly symmetrical square, framed by elegant red brick and stone buildings, was the brainchild of King Henry IV. He envisioned it as a grand symbol of his reign and a hub for Parisian high society. Picture this: the year is 1612. A young Louis XIII, just a boy king, rides through the square in a grand carrousel, celebrating his engagement to Anne of Austria. The square buzzes with noblemen gossiping beneath the arches and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages. Even Cardinal Richelieu, the king’s powerful minister, resided at number 21. Years passed, and the revolution swept through Paris. The very name, Place Royale, a symbol of the monarchy, was replaced with Rue des Vosges, honoring a region that promptly paid its taxes to the new republic. Yet, the square endured. Today, the ghosts of history linger. Stand in the very spot where Victor Hugo, the literary giant, penned “Les Misérables” at number 6. Rue des Vosges is more than just a beautiful square; it’s a living tapestry of Parisian history, woven with threads of royalty, revolution, and artistic genius.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to