10 French Things to Do in Place des Vosges, Paris

One of my earliest memories from visiting Paris for the first time is of the Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, located in the Marais. With a grassy park in the center, and covered passageways lining the perimeter, there’s always a fun place to explore or just relax in this public park and shopping plaza.

The square was built upon commission by Henri IV between 1605 and 1612. The Place des Vosges officially opened to celebrate Louis XIII’s engagement to Anne of Austria. Back then it was called “Place Royale.” The square served as a prime example of the residential squares that would pop up throughout Europe.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was very fashionable and expensive to live in the Place des Vosges. Celebrated French writer Victor Hugo lived at number 6 from 1832 to 1848, which today houses a museum honoring his work.

Place des Vosges is characterized by its uniform and repetitive design: pinkish-red bricks with vertical strips of gray stone, under vaulted gray rooftops. It’s become iconic of the hip Marais neighborhood.

Today, many of the best art galleries in Paris and upscale restaurants line the boutiques under the arches of the plaza. You can sip tea and order macarons at Carette, or have a fabulously Parisian lunch at Café Hugo.

Here are the best things to do in this lovely square.

Sit on the Benches Under the Trees

Admire the Architecture of the Arches

Visit the Maison de Victor Hugo

The Maison de Victor Hugo is a museum dedicated to the life and work of the famous French writer Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

It’s located inside the apartment where Hugo lived from 1832 to 1848. During those years, he wrote parts of some of his most important works and became a major literary and political figure in France.

Maison Victor Hugo Place des Vosges Paris_DSCF4724

Today, the house has been preserved as a museum. You can see:

Re-created rooms from Hugo’s apartment
Original furniture and decorations
Manuscripts, drawings, and personal objects
Artwork connected to his life and writings
Temporary exhibitions about Hugo, literature, and 19th-century Paris

Get Tickets

Admire the Water Fountains

Have a Picnic on the Grass

Experience Fine Dining at L’Ambroisie

L’Ambroisie is one of the most prestigious fine-dining restaurants in Paris, known for classic French haute cuisine and an exceptionally traditional style of service and cooking. The restaurant is led by chef Bernard Pacaud, who is widely regarded as one of the masters of refined French dining. It has held three Michelin stars for decades and is famous for dishes that emphasize precision, rich sauces, and luxury ingredients rather than modern experimentation.