The King Louis XIV conscious that Paris was low in public buildings decided the imposing plan of the Place, in 1685 . Jules Hardouin-Mansart was given the responsability to conceive this gigantic project; He bought back his hotel to the duke of Vendôme - from where the name of the Place. It is in the Vendôme place that seat the Ministry of Justice since the revolution.The column of Napoleon Ier , has been built with the cast iron of the enemy cannons of Austerlitz , it replaced under the empire the statue of Louis XIV destroyed in 1789. Hotels of the General Farmers , they lent money to the King when the State had significant debts. To refund itself they took themselves taxes in the campaigns. This is why they were very unpopular. This square now hosts luxury boutiques.