Place Dauphine is the side of Paris that isn’t on your bucket list, yet truly makes you feel like you’re in Paris when you finally visit.

You know this romantic, old days Paris that you see in movies. Yes, this one. Well that’s exactly how being in Place Dauphine feels like.

 

explore paris france - place dauphine

 

Typical “things to do in Paris” lists don’t usually include Place Dauphine. It’s not the first place you have in mind when thinking about Paris (what is Paris for you? The Eiffel Tower? Notre-Dame?)

It’s not a grand monument, but Place Dauphine is a beautiful square in the heart of Paris, a place to escape the hustle & bustle of the city and relax.

 

You can click on any of the part above to go straight to it!

Let’s get started with the first item on the list: Place Dauphine location

 

place dauphine from the streets of paris

 

Place Dauphine Location

Place Dauphine is located on the Île de la Cité, a big island in the middle of Paris on which Notre-Dame de Paris is also built. It’s situated in the first arrondissement of Paris.

 

 

Place Dauphine used to be the tip of the Île de la Cité (now replaced by the square Vert-Galant). It’s within very close walking distance of the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

 

place dauphine in winter

 

Place Dauphine Facts

What best way to learn more about a place and its history than facts? I’ve gathered for you a few interesting facts about Place Dauphine that you can find below:

  • the square was built in 1607
  • it’s the geographical center of Paris
  • 15 buildings on the square are classified as “Monument Historique“, a classification for buildings of high-level importance in France

 

old plan of paris with the place dauphine

Par Matthäus Merian — Detail from File:Plan de Mérian.jpg, Domaine public

 

Exploring Place Dauphine

To get to Place Dauphine, the best way is to cross one of the most beautiful bridges of Paris, the Pont Neuf. After crossing the bridge, you’ll notice on your side 2 beautiful buildings, with a small street going in. This is the West Entrance of the square.

 

entrance of place dauphine

 

Once you enter the square, you’ll feel like in a completely different location. The square is isolated from the rest of the city, and there’s a special feeling of calmness in this place.

The quaint cobblestone streets and the trees will take you back to the Old Paris.

Simply sit down on one of the park benches, and enjoy a nice relaxation time.

 


 

Place Dauphine is home to many cafés and restaurants, that will satisfy your cravings after a day spent walking around Paris. I love sitting at a café, sipping a hot cappuccino and watching people pass by through the window.

 

west entrance of place dauphine

 

entry of the place dauphine from the banks of the seine

 

Henri IV Statue

Right in front of the West Entrance of Place Dauphine (the 2 buildings), on the Pont-Neuf bridge, there is a beautiful bronze statue of king Henri IV, on his horse.

 


The original statue was built in 1614, but was taken down during the French Revolution. The one that you can see today was built in 1818 by Francois-Frédéric Lemot.

 

statue henri iv being built in front of the place dauphine

 

Square Vert-Galant

If you go to the back of the Henri IV statue, you’ll have a nice view above the Square Vert-Galant, a beautiful little park right above the water.

 

square vert galant paris france

 

Palais de Justice

At the opposite entry of Place Dauphine, if you cross the square, you’ll see another marvelous building: the Cour d’Appel (Court of Appeal), part of the Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice).

 

palais de justice paris france

 

What To Visit Next?

After visiting the Place Dauphine, there are several other places you could check out.
The 3 that I recommend are:

These 3 locations are the perfect follow-up to your stroll, because they are also located on the Île de la Cité. A 5mn walk is all it will take to reach them.

 

the place dauphine in paris france

 

If you want other ideas of places to visit in the same area, you could also check out these:

I hope you enjoyed this guide about a less-famous side of Paris. Did you already visit this beautiful place? Or did you just learn about it? Either way, let me know in the comments below!

If you plan to visit this quaint square, make sure to tag your Instagram photos with #kevmrc so that we can all see them!