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 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

Maybe it's Because I'm a Londoner

So, after a half-hearted blogging attempt over the holidays, I'm back on track with some London fun for those of you who live in the capital or who are hopping across the channel for a city break. A French friend came to visit me, and we split our tourist trail over several days, managing to get in nearly all the sights that London has to offer! It was a whirl-wind tour, so hop aboard for the ride...

1. First stop, Charing Cross. Whilst you're here, take the opportunity to wander around the fountains & climb one of the famous lions around Nelson's Column, see the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery (for free!). Take in a free lunch-time concert in St. Martin's in the Fields, and stroll along towards Leicester Sq, Picadilly Circus and Covent Garden, which are all only a few minutes away.

2. Hop along the train towards Waterloo - or walk, it's not far! Enjoy a stroll along by the river: see if you can spot The London Eye, Westminster, The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, the Hayward Gallery & skatepark and The Royal Festival Hall.

3. Our gloomy day brightened up as we crossed the Thames. Keep an eye out for the 'walkie-talkie' and the 'cheese-grater' new skyscrapers, as well as Blackfriars Bridge just by the Globe Theatre. Cross the Millennium Bridge to see St. Paul's & its famous 'Whispering Gallery'. HMS Belfast (the camouflaged boat you can see below), Thames River Boat tours.

4. If you continue along the river, you'll end up passing by Sir Francis Drake's ship: 'The Golden Hind', and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Once you're nearing London Bridge, head to Borough Market on a market day for loads of free tasters (see Southwark Cathedral below) & buy a yummy lunch for not many of your Great British Pounds. 

  5. Instead of paying £25.00 to climb the Shard, why don't you head across London Bridge to Monument? It's only a short walk to the famous tower built by Christopher Wren, the celebrated English architect who designed St. Paul's Cathedral. It's £3.00 for adults, £2.00 for students and just £1.00 for children, and after huffing & puffing your way up 311 steps you get a lovely view of London. The story behind the design of Monument, built in memory of the tragedy of the Great Fire of London of 1666, which started in a bakery in the nearby Pudding Lane, is fascinating.

6. After a long day of sight-seeing, crash in a traditional British pub, my favourites are The Station Hotel in Hither Green, The Princess of Wales in Blackheath, The Sylvan Post in Forest Hill or The Horniman at Hays Galleria.

Many more walking tours of London to come...

À Bientôt !

x