First known as Place de la Paroisse, this important public space became Place d’Armes in 1721, when it was set aside for military drills. By the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, it also served as a polling place and a market where hay, straw and firewood were sold.

In 1848, after several enlargements, the square presented a striking contrast: to the north stood large banks; to the south, Notre-Dame Church and the Sulpician Seminary; to the east, elegant buildings; and to the west, aging structures housing restaurants and small shops where ambitious redevelopment projects were slow to materialize.

A few years later, the square finally took on the appearance of a Victorian square, with stone gateways, wrought-iron fencing, and a central fountain—a transformation that underscored its prestige.