Place des Vosges Paris
In the early 17th century Henry IV turned this plot of wet agricultural land into one of the first known urban planning projects. The Place des Vosges was designed to be a community for the Paris aristocracy. 36 symmetrical brick houses were laid out in perfect harmony around the large green square. Several of the houses have their own unique particular histories, and were the homes to some of the most famous names in Paris history (Victor Hugo and Richeliau owned homes here). Many of the more famous homes now serve as museums of an earlier era, or of their famous residents. The green itself served as a venue for the formal duels which settled the disputes of the rich and famous.

Today, it could be argued, Paris aristocracy still resides here. The arcades around the square have been transformed into expensive galleries and shops and cafes filled with immaculate people who have come to be seen and admired.