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Hôtel Montpensier - hotel Paris
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Place of Concorde  |
Under the old régime, this was the place of popular celebrations, but it became associated with the bloody events of the Terror after Louis XVI, Danton, Robespierre and many others were executed here. In 1795 it was renamed Place de la Concorde in a sign of national reconciliation.
Louis-Philippe, wanting to bring royalists and republicans back together, chose a monument without any political significance in erecting the Obelisk of Luxor in the center of the square, presented as a gift by the Egyptian Viceroy Méhémet Ali.
After a two and a half year voyage from the banks of the Nile the granite monolith, whose ancient hieroglyphics were carved more than 3,000 years ago under Ramesis II, was erected in front of 200,000 spectators, on October 25, 1836. |
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Orsay museum |
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Inaugurated on July 14, 1900, on the eve of the great exhibition, the Gare d'Orsay, constructed by the architect Victor Laloux, was used as a Railroad station only until 1939. It soon became obvious that it was not suited to the increasing number of travelers and has successively been used as a prison center on the liberation of Paris, a film set by Orson Wells, a theater by the Company Renaud Barrault, and a sales room by Drouot.
In 1973 the idea to use it as a museum was born, but it was only in 1977 that the decision was officially made. On December 1st, 1986, after internal renovation by Gae Aulenti, François Mitterrand inaugurated the museum.
The Musée d'Orsay demonstrates the artistic creation of the western world in all its diversity from 1848 to 1914.
Here you can see, LAngélus by Millet, L'Olympia and Le Déjeuner sur L'Herbe by Manet, La Danse de Carpeaux, the series on the Rouen Cathedral by Monnet, L'Eglise d'Auvers sur Oise by Van Gogh, Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette by Renoir, and La Porte de l'enfer by Rodin and more. |
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Place Vendôme |
Place Vendôme is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful architectural sites en Paris. The square has an octagonal shape, open at the centre of its south and north sides. Just like Versailles, place Vendôme bears witness to one of French history's most glorious periods: the reign of Louis XIV. Three centuries of art, culture, and elegance make this a unique address in Paris. Today, Place Vendôme is the centre of haute Parisian jewellery, shining over Paris' most brilliant neighbourhood, with haute couture, antique dealers, art galleries, the Opera, and the Louvre Museum. |
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Louvre museum |
Installed on a domain of more than 40 hectares right in the heart of Paris, on a right bank of the Seine, the museum of the Louvre offers approximately 60 000 m ² of showrooms dedicated to the conservation of representative objects of 11 millenniums of civilization and culture. |
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Opera Garnier |
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Constructed in 1862 by the young architect Charles Garnier in the style of the Second Empire, the Opera was completed in 1875 in the first days of the Third Republic.
It was the largest opera house in the world. An interesting point is that this massive edifice is built on an underground river, which continues to fill a subterranean lake.
Legend has it that the Phantom of the Opera, created by Gaston Leroux, continues to carry out his hair-raising activities.
An absolute must: The great staircase, of which the first ten steps form a magnificent elevator cage, the ceiling frescos in vivid colors created by Marc Chagall in 1964 and the immense crystal chandelier weighing six tons.
Tickets for ballet performances at the Opera are hard to come by. However, if you are unable to obtain some, you must try to experience the gold and velvet ambiance of the building itself (the main entrance hall is open from 11 am to 4.30 pm). |
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