Connects: by foot to Stroll 14 (Invalides and Gros Caillou), or Stroll 16 (Concorde-Madeleine-Expiatoire), or Stroll 17 (Concorde to Place de l’Alma).  Strolls 16 and 17 both begin at Place de la Concorde. The connection to Stroll 14 can also be made by a quick Metro ride.  You can also  connect by Metro to Stroll 4 (The Louvre & Vicinity), or Stroll 5 (Palais Royal & Vicinity), or Stroll 6 (Les Halles-Pompidou-Hotel de Ville), or Stroll 7, (Central Marais), or Stroll 8 (Southern Marais), or Stroll 9 (Western & Northern Marais), or Stroll 13 (Musee D’Orsay to Musee Rodin), or Stroll 21 (Opera-Haussmann-Saint Lazare), or Stroll 24 (Montmartre), or Stroll 25 (Pigalle aka SOPI), or to a standalone site, the Arc de Triomphe.

Past and Present: Place de la Concorde, the Jardin des Tuileries and Place Vendome were all projects of France’s rulers, developed from the late 1500s to the mid-1800s, with the purpose improving and beautifying the area of the city to the west of the Louvre.  Today, they offer fascinating histories along with spectacular visual experiences, and their proximity to each other  effectively makes them a single district – or a least natural to combine in a single stroll.  Place de la Concorde boasts sculpted fountains, the Luxor Obelisk and tours of the magnificent royal mansion known as the Hotel de la Marine.  The Jardin is highlighted by tree-lined walking paths, varied sculptures and two museums, one devoted to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art and the other to photography and media art.  Place Vendome is perhaps the city’s most luxurious residential enclave, and boasts a triumphal column erected by Napoleon Bonaparte.  The route also leads to elegant shopping streets, two historic hotels, Paris’s Polish church, a fine bookstore and a variety of good restaurants.   

Attractions (in order):        

• Place de la Concorde: At western border of the Jardin des Tuileries.  Grand plaza dating from the 18th century, site of the guillotine during the Revolution, now a spectacular traffic rotary with statues and fountains and the Luxor Obelisk, plus  former royal mansions along the north side.  
• Hotel de la Marine: #2 Place de la Concorde.  Magnificent 18th century royal mansion forming the northeastern boundary of Place de la Concorde.  Now open to the public,  to tour the opulent rooms and view the private Al Thani antiquities collection housed there. Building accessible daily 10:30am-7pm (9:30pm Fridays), but entry requires reserving a tour time.  There are five audio guided tours to choose from: four 90 min long, €17; one 45 min long €13.   (Note: The stroll route starts and ends at Place de la Concorde so you may want to schedule your tour of this venue to coincide with one of those times.) 
• Hotel de Crillon: #4-10 Place de la Concorde.  Magnificent 18th century royal mansion forming the northwestern border of Place de la Concorde.  It houses an historic luxury traveler’s inn, also called Hotel de Crillion, at #10, as well as the Automobile Club of France and the Hotel de Coislin mansion site.  The public areas of the traveler’s inn are accessible.      
• Jardin des Tuileries: Large public park situated between Place de la Concorde and the Palais du Louvre.  Originally a royal palace garden, the park consists of a highly formalized arrangement of tree-lined walking alleys, fountains, ponds and statues, plus a children’s play area, an area of carnival rides, and several open-air eateries.  Daily 7:30am-7:30pm, free.
• Musee de l’Orangerie: Jardin des Tuilieries, just inside the Concorde gate.   Museum of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including Monet’s giant murals of water lilies, called the “Nympheas” displayed in two special rooms.  The building is the former “orangerie” (greenhouse) of Emperor Napoleon III. Wed-Mon 9am-6pm, €12.5, free for persons under 18 and EU residents under 26.  There is a small café on site.
• Galerie du Jeu de Paume: Jardin des Tuileries, just inside the Concorde gate.  Museum hosting changing exhibits of photography and media art.  The building is the former handball court of Emperor Napoleon III.  Tues 11am-9pm, Wed-Sun, 11am-7pm, €12.  Rose Bakery runs a small outdoor café on the museum’s terrace.
• Le Meurice hotel: #228 Rue de Rivoli.  Luxury traveler’s inn dating from 1835, occupied by Nazi commandant during WWII.  Public areas accessible. 
• Place Vendome:  Two blocks north from the Jardin des Tuileries, accessed via Rue de Castiglione..  Spectacular 17th century plaza, surrounded by posh residential buildings of that era, one occupied now by the Ritz Paris hotel, and featuring a central, bronze clad triumphal column erected by Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Ritz Paris hotel: #15 Place Vendome.  Luxury traveler’s inn, founded in 1898.  It contains a cocktail bar that Ernest Hemingway famously “liberated” when he entered Paris with the Allied forces in 1944.  Public areas accessible.  The bar, now called “Bar Hemingway,” is open Tues-Sat 6pm-2am.
• Shopping along Rue de Castiglione and Rue Saint Honore: Upscale commercial streets leading to and away from Place Vendome.  Stores include outposts of international brands and local retailers.
• Church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption: #263 Rue Saint Honore, at Rue Cambon. This attractive 17th century Catholic church with a dome, has served as the city’s main Polish house of worship since 1844.  Daily 7:30am-7:30pm (8:30pm Sundays), free.
• Smith & Son Bookstore: #248 Rue de Rivoli, at Rue Cambon.  Bookstore that traces its heritage to a popular tea room founded here by Britons in the 1800s.  The store has a modern interior and  offers works in multiple languages.  Mon-Sat 9:30am-7:30pm, Sun 12:30-7pm.

Dining Suggestions (in order):

• Angelina Tea Room: #226 Rue de Rivoli. French cuisine, sandwiches, specialty desserts, hot chocolate l’Africain.  Elegant Belle Epoque room.  Mon-Fri 7:30am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-7pm.  Average cost for lunch @€50.  No reservations, but the entry line moves.
• L’Ardoise: #28 Rue du Mont Thabor.  French cuisine.   Narrow traditional rooms on two floors.  Mon-Sat Noon-3pm, 6:30-11pm.  Prix-fixe only @€27-34-39.  (The stroll route passes by this street on the way to Place Vendome and returning to Place de la Concorde.)
• Maisie Café: #32 Rue du Mont Thabor, second half of route.  Vegan cuisine – breakfast, lunch and snack selections.  Counter ordering, small casual room.  Mon-Fri 9am-4pm.  Moderate prices.   (The stroll route passes by this street on the way to Place Vendome and returning to Place de la Concorde.)
• Le Souffle: #36 Rue du Mont Thabor, second half of route.  French cuisine, specializing in souffles.  Traditional room.  Mon-Sat, Noon-4pm, dinner services 7pm and 9pm.  Appetizers @€7-17, Souffle mains @€16-20, other mains @€21-29, dessert souffles @€12.  Lunch prix-fixe @€30 (appetizer, main, dessert, beverage, coffee) offered Tues-Fri Noon-2:30pm.  (The stroll route passes by this street on the way to Place Vendome and returning to Place de la Concorde.)
• Au Coin Des Gourmets Rive Droit: #38 Rue du Mont Thabor, second half of route.  SE Asian cuisine.  Traditional room with Asian accents.  Mon-Sat 11:45am-2pm, 6:45-10pm.  Lunch prix-fixe Mon-Fri @€19, a la carte average cost @€30.  (The stroll route passes by this street on the way to Place Vendome and returning to Place de la Concorde.)
• Brasserie Flottes: #2 Rue Cambon, on the return to Place de la Concorde.  French cuisine, plus seafood platters.  salads, plates to share.  Traditional rooms with clubby décor.  Daily 7am-11:30pm.  Average cost @€40-50.