Admire the Place Vendôme, which is one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles of Paris from the end of the reign of Louis XIV. We owe this square to the architect of the famous Gallery of Mirrors of Versailles: Jules Hardouin- Mansart. Have you noticed the emblem of Louis XIV, the sun? It's on every balcony. The square was also created to provide a framework for an equestrian statue of Louis XIV, which was destroyed during the Revolution, and gave way to the Vendôme column you see now.The Vendôme Column was erected by Napoleon to the glory of the soldiers who conquered Austerlitz. It forms a bronze spiral, melted from the 1250 cannons captured during the battle. Military scenes are represented on the carved surface. At the top , you can see Napoleon I dressed as Julius Caesar. Previously, depending on the political regime changes and various unrests, there was the statue of Henri IV, and also one of Napoleon as a "Petit Caporal" ("Little Corporal", an affectionate nickname) . During the insurrection of the Commune, the column will be knocked over, causing exile to the painter Gustave Courbet, who ending up being blamed for this act. Since then, during the Third Republic, a replica of the original statue was erected and stands to this day.In this square, at number 15 you see the Ritz Hotel, one of the most famous hotels in Paris, founded by César Ritz. The Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed owns it today. In August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales and her lover, the son of Mohamed al- Fayed, Dodi, dined in the Imperial hotel suite before their fatal car accident.At number 12 is the house in which the composer Chopin died. He was the famous lover of the writer Georges Sand, born Aurore DupinAt present, retrace your steps on the rue Castiglione, walking on the right side. Stop for a moment at the next intersection with the rue Saint Honoré and listen to our next comment