This is the fifth post in this series of Paris parks. We chose Place Dauphine not because it is the next most popular park in Paris but because we have so many photos of it and really love it! So we wanted to share it with you. It is not on many people’s lists of “parks we must see in Paris” perhaps because it is a little off the beaten path and not so well publicized as some of the others. However, it is a gem and a very lovely spot, particularly in spring when the chestnut trees are in bloom, and at Christmas when it is set off by lovely, tasteful decorations which do not overwhelm.
Perhaps the name deserves an explanation as it can be a little confusing. The Dauphin was the crown prince of France. Dauphin – masculine. Dauphine looks like it should be the crown princess but that is not the case. It is used as an adjective, the Place of the Dauphin. And Place is feminine in French. And the adjective agrees with the noun so you get Place Dauphine. The Place of the Dauphin. No extra charge for the grammar lesson:-)
In this case, the Dauphin in question was the son of King Henry IV, born in 1601 and heir to the throne, later to become King Louis XIII.
Place Dauphine was laid out between 1607 and 1610 and was the second of Henry IV’s projects for public squares. The first was Place Royale, now Place des Vosges in the Marais.
Place Dauphine seen from overhead in April with the chestnut trees in bloom.
This sign post is on the northern span of Pont Neuf. Place Dauphine is connected to Pont Neuf by a 40 meter cobbled street, .
GENERAL VIEWS OF PLACE DAUPHINE
Do not be misled by our photos into thinking that the chestnut trees are blooming most of the time. They bloom in April usually for. a few weeks and they definitely make Place Dauphine very special. The rest of the year, the Place is still very charming. But the chestnuts in bloom are a big attraction. You can see what it looks like in winter in one of the photos below. And further down we’ll show it at Christmas time. It’s a little photographer’s heaven in spring.
STREETS, SHOPS AND CAFÉs
The streets that surround Place Dauphine are fascinating, with a wealth of interesting buildings, cafes, shops and apartment buildings.
It’s quite amazing how many different establishments, eateries and so on can be packed into such a small square (well, triangle).
PLACE DAUPHINE IN THE RAIN
Far from being a deterrent, the rain seems to be quite enjoyable in Place Dauphine as you can see in these photos.
CITROËN CENTER
Place Dauphine seems to be a favorite spot for Citroën 2CV tours which make for some picturesque images.
PEOPLE, PETS AND BICYCLES
Place Dauphine is quite populated. There are times you can walk into the square and find it completely deserted, not a soul or anything moving in sight. Other times the square is a busy scene with people walking their dogs, riding their bicycles, kids doing art lessons, diners enjoying the fresh air at the outdoor tables, groups of pétanque players and other forms of life.
FALLEN PETALS
The time when the petals are on the ground is particularly lovely.
HOLIDAY SEASON IN PLACE DAUPHINE
Christmas is a special time in Place Dauphine. Understated but beautiful decorations. Just the right amount.
LA PLACE DAUPHINE
It would be very remiss of us not to mention our friends at Paris Perfect Rentals in conjunction with Place Dauphine, especially since all the overhead views in this post as well as some of the others would never have happened if they had not given us the opportunity to stay in one of their apartments right on Place Dauphine. In fact they fully renovated an entire hotel and converted it to wonderful rental apartments, La Place Dauphine. You can find the details on their website here. It is an amazing story and one of the best stays we ever had in Paris before we moved there. The building is in the center of the first photo below, from the ground floor all the way up to the balconies of the top two duplex apartments. You can see the view from those balconies in the second image below. And the final photo of Place Dauphine at night was taken from their second floor (US third floor) apartment. This is not a commercial. We hope you will be inspired to stay there for your sake. It is an unforgettable experience. But we mention this only as a recommendation.
And there you have a brief peek at Place Dauphine, especially during April with the chestnuts are in bloom. and at Christmas when the Christmas trees are up. But the square is wonderful at any time of year and absolutely worth a visit if you are ever in Paris.
There are many images in this Journal post. Most of them are available for purchase as prints or canvases even if not already listed the shop. If you would like any of the images, please contact us by email and let us know which you would like. Screen shots are a good way to identify the images you are referring to.
We certainly hope you have enjoyed this pictorial tour of Place Dauphiner. If you are on the mailing list we will let you know when the next post is up. We don’t yet know what it’s going to be: a surprise for you and for us.
Please leave a comment below. We always appreciate hearing from you.
À bientôt,
The Parisian Moments Team