After our little jaunt around the Louvre, we headed down through a dusty and bright Tuileries towards Place de la Concorde, the Luxor Obelisk and The Champs-Elysees. I always shudder since going past this now beautiful square, after having learned its rather grisly history as the centre point of the Reign of Terror. The infamous guillotine that did away with Marie Antoinette's, Louis de Saint-Just's and Robespierre's heads was stationed here in what used to be known as 'Place de la Revolution', being the biggest and probably most intimidating square in Paris. Luckily, the square has since been renamed with a much more peaceful sounding moniker, "Place de la Concorde", as a gesture of reconciliation after the Revolution. Read more here.
Nowadays
[Picture credits to http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Place_de_la_Concorde_Paris_02.jpg]
The square's violent history
[Picture credits to http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Place_de_la_Révolution_exécution_capitale.jpg]
Can you believe that the Obelisk in the centre of the square dates from the 19th Dynasty of Egypt [c. 1292 to 1187 BC] and is covered in hieroglyphs commemorating the reign of Rameses II? It was one of 3 obelisks gifted to the French government and arrived in 1833. At 23m high, I'd always thought it was a modern sculpture owing to its amazing condition.
Next stop: the Triumphal Arc located at the top of the Champs. I stupidly forgot to snap a photo from the base of the Arc so I've had to borrow another photo from the internet. Credit here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe
Free for European students under 26 years of age with proof of ID, the monument is at once a commemoration of the Napoleonic victories for which purpose it was built, for those who died in Revolutionary and Napoleonic battles, and a national monument in recognition of those who died in the Great Wars. The tomb of the Unknown solider lies beneath its vaults, and a flame burns continually in remembrance.
A plaque commemorating Charles de Gaulle's famous 'Appel du 18 Juin 1940', made via radio from the BBC in London, rallying the French to arms, as well as the Allied Forces who fought alongside for the same cause, against the German invaders.
Plaques thanking those who fought for France from Britain, the USA, France's colonies, as well as the students and lyceens who died for their country. Find out more about the Arc's history and purpose here.
A mock-up showing the intricate carvings all over the outside of the Arc. The rest-stop near the top was always intended to be a museum to France's war heroes even at the start of its construction in 1806. Be warned, it's a long way up, the stairs are steep, and there isn't really anywhere to stop off if you get out of breath climbing. Bring sensible shoes and take any necessary precautions before your climb.
The View!
Sacre-Coeur atop of Montmartre's hill.
Invalides (gold domed), Montparnasse (tower block) and St. Clothide (church just in the foreground)
Next on the list was the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero. Race you there...
À Bientôt !
x
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