Henri IV's interest in urban planning should be seen in the light of his desire to reorganize the kingdom. The king wanted to breathe new life into France's cities by launching major urban policy projects, and embellish them by building public monuments. "I love my city of Paris like my eldest daughter." … " and furthermore to "render this city beautiful and full of as many goods and ornaments as possible". In the winter of 1604–05, Henri IV conceived his first large-scale project.

He wanted to create a square on the site of the park of the former Hôtel Royal des Tournelles. The building of the Place Royale (now the Place des Vosges) was launched by letters published in July 1605. They called for the construction of a vast, mostly enclosed square (140 x 140 metres) bordered by tall, identical townhouses. The result is a symmetrical square surrounded by buildings with red brick and white stone facades, steep slate roofs and dorm windows, all constructed over arcades.