Place de la Concorde and Obelisque de Luxor and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

Place de la Concorde is the largest place in Paris, built between 1754 and 1763 during King Loius the XVth and for that it was called Place Louis XV. It became Place de la Revolution and held in its center the guillotine that executed in particular Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and 2800 others between 1793 and 1795. After the Revolution it suffered a series of transformations et several changes of name: place de la Concorde, place Louis XV again, place Louis XVI, place de la Chartre, and once again place de la Concorde to symbolize the end of a troubled era and the hope of a better future. The place today maintains the general appearance that it had in the eighteenth century. The statue of Louis XV, removed during the Revolution, was replaced by the Obelisk of Luxor given by the viceroy of Egypt, Mohamed Ali, to Louis Phillipe. The obelisk, 22.83 meters high and weighing 230 tons, which marked the entrance to the Amon temple at Luxor, was installed in 1836.

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Address: Metro 1, 13 : Concorde

Initially I thought this to be a plaza with artists and cafes like on the Rue du Mouffertard - I don't know why I got this idea - went there and saw Place des Vosges is a small park perfectly square shaped (140 meters x 140 meters).

As I read now about it, this is the oldest square in Paris - inaugurated in 1612. The buildings around the square are interesting as they were residence for some people in French history. At no.6 Victor Hugo lived between 1832-1848 and at no.21 Cardinal Richelieu from 1615-1627.

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La Madeleine in Paris is in fact a church with a roman design, like the design used in the facade of the Pantheon in Rome and like the Maison Carrée in Nîmes which are ones of the best preserved Roman temples.

The building was made in the second half of the 18th century, with some false starts and change in design. Started as a church dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene then Napoleon decided in 1806 to make here a temple dedicated to the glory of the great army, and work began again. In 1808 the Arc de Triomphe was built and blunted the role of La Madeleine, as it was also a commemorative monument to the French army. After the fall of Napoleon, Kinh Louis XVIII determined again that the structure was to be a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene, finally finished in 1842.

The interior looks like a typical church, single nave with three domes. At the rear of the church, above the altar there is a statue of St Mary Magdalene being carried up to heaven by two angels.

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Address: Place de la Madeleine and Rue Royale
Directions: Metro #12 stop Madeleine.

It was my first time visiting Musée d'Orsay (though my third time in Paris). The building is in fact the former train station Gare d'Orsay - transformed in a museum in 1977. The museum was opened on December 1st 1986, so it's a very new museum and therefore very sought after.

We were lucky not to have a line for tickets, as I saw previous times long entry lines that went along the Seine bank, at least one hour long stay. This time it was one person in front on the ticket desk :) So perfect time for visiting.

Beside the majestic interior and the wonderful clock (see my next tip) the museum displays a very selected set of paintings - Manet, Degas, Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh (wow, super) - to name a few, and sculptures - my favorites, they are so gracefully made. See next tips for Musée d'Orsay paintings and sculptures.

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Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

The giant golden clock attracts your eyes the minute you go inside. I suppose it's the old clock used for the train station (Gare d'Orsay) now reconditioned and golden plated again. It's simply beautiful and an work of art in itself, though not presented in the guide but only as a reference point for the floor plans. Too bad, I would have liked to know more about that clock.

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Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Musée d'Orsay holds an impressive 25 paitings by Van Gogh - which is really different from other painters, having this absolutely unique way of painting. I can say it's one of my favorite painters.

For this collection of Van Gogh one can visit Musée d'Orsay, it's a privilege to see the originals a nose distance close.

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Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

The artist is Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875) and he did this in 1869 - the sculpture represents the Opera dancer Eugénie Fiocre (1845-1908). The girl was really nice and that also shows into the piece of art that is this sculpture. Incredible how they used to made this for eternity. I found sculptures to be closest to the real thing and they bring you back in time.

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Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Whistler's mother painting, Manet, Monet and many more Musée d'Orsay has to offer to art lovers.

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Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

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NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

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Almost all people that see this picture asks what this is .. probably because if you never been to Paris, you have seen the Notre Dame Cathedral only by the front view. I started my walk this time, as well as the previous time, in the little park behind Notre Dame, where you take out your camera and head to visit Paris.

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Address: Ile de la Cité

The Pantheon was ment to be a mausoleum to "receive the bodies of great men who died in the period of French liberty". The building alternated between being a church and mausoleum throughout the last century. In 1985, following the collapse of stone work in the vaults, it has had to be closed for quite a time. Now reopened and accepting visitors (fee) including in the crypts where lies the mortal remains of Frances honored deads : Mirabeau, Voltaire (first ones to be buried here in 1791), Rousseau (1794), Hugo (1885), Zola (1908). Alexandre Dumas' body was moved here in sign of great appreciation recently (2002), being the last to put to rest in the Pantheon.

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Phone: 33 1 43 54 34 51
Address: Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris