The hotel of Tournelles, royal property, occupied the place of Vosges for the XIVth century. When Henri II hurt in a tournament died, his widow Catherine de Medici ordered its destruction. A horse market thenoccupied the place, where also met the duellists. At that time, Paris was already lacking green spaces. So Henri IV decided the creation of a place devolved to parties in this place. The best architects designed 36 detached houses with arches among which those of king and queen, higher, punctuated an elegant symmetry. The success of the place des Vosges was immediate. The well-to-do of the kingdom made build hotels nearby, so beginning the development of the Le Marais quarter.
Image source : http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_des_Vosges
