Place Dauphine - one of the most beautiful in Paris. It is situated on the Ile de la Cité, it offers beautiful views of the Louvre - and, nevertheless, wrote Andre Morua, area undeservedly forgotten. Tourists know it a little.

Place Dauphine came in 1608, when Henry IV. Four years earlier, the king built a new bridge crossing the Cité. The intersection - on the western tip of the island - appreciated the beauty of the king decided to split large area, which amounted to contrast with the intricate medieval streets of the old town.

They named the area in honor of the future monarch Louis XIII - heir to the throne in France called Dauphin. Along the perimeter of thirty-two houses built in the same style - brick, white stone, arcade, white slate roof. Very close to the Cité was the former royal palace that housed the administration of the king and the judicial chambers - the square began to rent apartments middle-ranking diplomats, provincials involved in the courts. Place Dauphine itself has become a favorite place to work and comedians zubodёrov.

"Happy King" as the name of Henry, had no time to really enjoy his creation: May 14, 1610, while riding in an open carriage in Paris, François Ravaillac tramp, jumped on the bandwagon, the king struck three times with a dagger.

At the beginning of the XVIII century, the area came into focus of the artistic life of Paris. On the day of the Body and Blood of Christ here in the open held exhibitions of artists-beginners. It is here that were recognized Chardin and Fragonard.

The French Revolution banned the holiday of Corpus Christi, the exhibition ended. At the same time the revolutionaries sent to the smelter area adorned equestrian monument "tyranny" Henry IV. The monument was restored in 1818, he was cast this time of melted pieces of Napoleon Bonaparte to the Vendome column.

Dauphin current is not too similar to its ancestor four centuries ago. Buildings on the east side demolished to open views of the Palace of Justice, of the old houses have survived to the present day only two. Today it is a cozy and quiet area, which is very fond of Parisians.