[1][2] It was opened by letters patent on August 10, 1779, on the site of the Condé Hotel under the name of the Place du Théâtre-Français ("French-Theater Square").

It was later renamed to the Place de la Comédie-Française ("French-Comedy Square"), before taking its current name in 1807.

Camille Desmoulins and Fabre d’Églantine were executed on April 5, 1794 along with, among others, fellow revolutionary Georges Danton.

This plaque was once briefly stolen in 1986 for unknown reasons, however it was recovered in an abandoned bus yard and can still be seen today.

[citation needed] During the Three Glorious Days of the July Revolution of 1830, the route was the site of confrontation between insurgents and troops.