Maréchal Foch square

Place du Maréchal Foch and its column

The Nantes audio-guided tour takes you to Place du Maréchal Foch, one of the best known in the city. It bears the name of Ferdinand Foch, commander-in-chief of the Allied forces at the end of the First World War, raised to the dignity of Marshal of France, the highest military distinction in the country.

The former Place Louis XVI

Some people of Nantes still call it Place Louis XVI, because of the statue of the king that dominates its column. It was long said that its height had preserved it during the Revolution, but this is a legend: the statue was only installed in 1823, well after. It nonetheless remains one of the rare representations of Louis XVI in France. Designed in the eighteenth century, the architectural ensemble of the square forms an elegant and harmonious setting.

What there is to see

The column surmounted by the statue of Louis XVI is the highlight of the square, framed by fine eighteenth-century façades. Nearby are the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral and the entrance to the historic district. It is a place of passage steeped in history, where royal memory and military tribute mingle, in the heart of heritage Nantes.

Practical information

Place du Maréchal Foch is in the heart of Nantes, near the cathedral and the château of the Dukes of Brittany. It is a public space freely accessible at all hours and on the level. The column and its statue can be contemplated from the square.

Why is it called Place Louis XVI?

Because of the statue of Louis XVI at the top of its column, installed in 1823; it is one of the rare representations of the king in France.

Who was Marshal Foch?

Ferdinand Foch was the commander-in-chief of the Allied forces at the end of the First World War, raised to the rank of Marshal of France.