Place Royale is the elegant 18th-century square at the heart of Reims, designed by the architect Legendre in the 1760s and dominated by a bronze statue of Louis XV at its centre. The square's classical colonnaded facades and symmetrical layout make it a pleasant place to sit and orient yourself — it is surrounded by cafes and lies just a few minutes' walk south of the Cathedral.
The square was badly damaged in World War I, like much of central Reims, but was carefully rebuilt to its original design as part of the city's postwar reconstruction. It marks the junction of the main shopping streets and the old town, making it a natural starting point for exploring the city on foot.