Is the Place du Carrousel just a public square? No it is much more. It’s a stage where French history has played out dramatically. The Route du Carrousel sits where the Tuileries Palace once stood. The palace was located between the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden. Now the Place du Carrousel connects these iconic Parisian landmarks.
The name “Carrousel” comes from a type of military drill. In 1662, Louis XIV used this space for an equine demonstration. Hence, the name Place du Carrousel was born.
Imagine the tumultuous days of the French Revolution. In October 1789, a mob forced Louis XVI and his family from Versailles to Paris. The royal family was installed in the Tuileries Palace under surveillance. Plots to help them escape were common. A failed attempt in June 1791 saw them captured and returned to Paris.
The King’s vulnerability became glaring. On June 20, 1792, a mob stormed the Tuileries. They forced the King to wear a red Phrygian cap. This act symbolized his loyalty to the revolution.
The violence escalated. On August 10, an armed mob attacked the Tuileries Palace. The royal family sought refuge in the Legislative Assembly. The Swiss Guards defended the palace with dedication. About seven hundred were killed. Their bodies lay in the Cours du Carrousel, now the Place du Carrousel. The royal family was imprisoned in the Temple.
The Place du Carrousel became a site of execution. The guillotine stood here from August 1792 to May 1793. Thirty-five people were guillotined. In August 1793, a wooden pyramid honored Jean-Paul Marat. It stood where the guillotine once did. The pyramid displayed Marat’s hip bath and desk.
The Tuileries Palace suffered greatly. During the revolution of 1848, rioters looted and damaged it. In 1871, during the Paris Commune, the palace was set ablaze. The fire lasted forty-eight hours. The ruins stood for eleven years. In 1882, the National Assembly voted to demolish them. This was completed in 1883.
With the palace gone, the Place du Carrousel could be used as a public square again. The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel became the main feature.
Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. It was built between 1806 and 1808. It served as an entrance of honor to the Tuileries. The arch commemorates Napoleon’s military victories. The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is larger.
The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel stands 63 feet high. It is 75 feet wide and 24 feet deep. The central arch is flanked by two smaller ones. Eight Corinthian columns adorn its exterior. These columns came from the Château de Meudon. Each column is topped by soldiers of the Empire. Bas-reliefs depict historical and allegorical scenes.
Napoleon’s victories are shown in rose marble. They include the Peace of Pressburg and the Battle of Austerlitz. The arch is modeled after Roman triumphal arches.
Sculptures on the columns represent Napoleon’s army corps. A quadriga tops the arch. It is a copy of the Horses of Saint Mark from Venice.
The destruction of the Tuileries Palace allowed an unobstructed view. One can see west towards the Arc de Triomphe. The Place du Carrousel now opens up the historic axis of Paris.
Today the Place du Carrousel offers a view of the Louvre. It connects the past with the present. The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel stands as a reminder. It recalls Napoleon’s triumphs. The square is a testament to Paris’s resilience. It has transformed from a site of revolution to a place of beauty.