This website requires JavaScript.

Louis XV on place Royale or the 1789's advantages!

Place Royale | Vassil / Public domain
Street District French Revolution Louis XV Place Royale in Reims

This square is on the location of the Grand Crédo district: in the 18th century, houses and small gardens which belonged to canons were built.

But, we've got a little problem! Streets were narrow and foul-smelling, traffic was difficult... in short, the square wasn't a dream!

That's why Louis-Jean Levesque de Puilly, lieutenant for the inhabitants, decided to open the Grand Crédo.

He asked some money to the king, in order to raise a big and nice square (called Royal square), with a statue of his Majesty.

According to him, this square would be "like a temple dedicated to Peace, dedicated to the glory of Louis XV"... Whoa, is that all?

Legendre, a civil engineer, designed the square. And finally king allowed the building site in May 1755: he even gave money (15 000 livres per year) for 42 years!

Pigalle sculpted the Louis XV's statue... destroyed during the French Revolution: a 1792 treaty said the effigy had to be demolished, as well as the inscriptions and other blazons throughout the city...

Guess what? They replaced the statue by a pyramid, covered with "inscriptions that formulate advantages provided by the Revolution"!

About the the author

Vinaigrette
I'm fond of strolls and History, with juicy and spicy details!