C'est Chouette !: Arc de Triomphe

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

The Tourist Trail: Arc de Triomphe

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 Egyp t [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 !

Sunday, 6 April 2014

The Tourist Trail (Le Louvre)

On Wednesday, Neil came to visit Paris for the first time and so began the tourist trail all over my adopted city. On the itinerary was all the classics: Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, The Eiffel Tower and first off: The Louvre. Hint: to avoid the queues outside by the glass pyramid, head underground through the shopping centre (Le Carrousel du Louvre) where the wait is much shorter.

Ce mercredi, mon ami Neil est venu visiter Paris pour la première fois, et donc nous avons commencé notre petit circuit touristique. Sur l'itinéraire on trouve toutes les classiques: Notre Dame, L'Arc de Triomphe, Le Tour Eiffel, et premièrement, Le Louvre. Une astuce: pour éviter les queues dehors du pyramide en verre, allez sous-terre par le centre-commerciel (Le Carrousel du Louvre) où l'attente dure beaucoup moins longue.

Of course, The Mona Lisa is unmissable, but as I've said before [here] and I'll say again, everywhere you look there are treasures to be found. Just looking up at the ceiling for a start, or looking out for gold patches worn away on statues (see above) where people have rubbed it for luck as they walk by).

Bien sur, La Jaconde est inratable, mais comme je l'ai dit avant, il y a d'autres trésors à découvrir. Regardez le plafond premièrement, où cherchez les taches d'or où la statue est devenue usée à cause des visiteurs qui l'ont frotté pour porter chance en passant).

The names of famous artists circle this embossed ceiling.
Les noms des artistes connues sont engravés sur ce plafond en or.

Particularly bad photo of the 'Mona Lisa' - but the reflection on the glass reveals the crowds of people gathered in front of the painting.

Une mauvais photo de 'La Jaconde', mais la réflexion révèle les foules qui amassent devant le peinture.

The 'Medieval Louvre' section takes you down underneath the museum where you can see original stonework and foundations. Models of the old castle that used to be on the Louvre's site show you what once was there.

Le "Louvre Medieval" vous emmenez au-dessous du musée où on peut voir les fondations et le maçonnage originale. Des maquettes de l'ancien château qui était là sous le site du Louvre te montre ce qui était là avant.