We headed west from St Michel and took used the Seine river as our guide. Our first stop was Place de la Concorde. And God showed us the way ...LOL!
Place de la Concorde is an open area on the left of the pic below (see the Obelisk - the pointy tower with the gold tip and the fountain.) that mainly is an intersection and decoration for the road leading to the rue Royale (yep, the old architecture behind was the old government buildings I think.) and on the right side beyond the ferries wheel would be the very large Tuileries garden that leads to the Louvre Museum. =)
It's significant as a sort of central square of government happenings in the past. i.e. If you wanna make a political statement in historical times (18th century), you do something big there. =)During the French revolution, the statue of King Louis XV was torn down and the area was renamed "Place de la Révolution" and held in its center the infamous guillotine that executed -notably - King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and about 2500 others from 1793 to 1795. In one month in 1794, 1300 lost their heads! It is said that the smell of blood was so strong that a herd of cattle refused to cross the place.
It was a period of the 'Reign of Terror' as those that were thought or suspected to be against the 'Liberty' movement...were arrested, tried and hauled out here for a public beheading, much to the amusement of the common folk, who actually liked the gruesome entertainment!
The guillotine was located where the obelisk stands today!If you think the Obelisk looks like something from Egypt -- you are right! (Give yourself 10 points! hahaha...) Now you may be wondering, what is this Egyptian looking thingy doing in the middle of Paris lor...
The obelisk once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple. The then viceroy of Egypt offered these 3,300-year-old Obelisk to France in 1831. It is one of two the Egyptian government gave to the French in the 19th century. The other one stayed in Egypt, too difficult and heavy to move to France with the technology at that time.
It has been standing there since 1836!
It has been standing there since 1836!
Transporting it was no easy feat — on the pedestal are drawn diagrams explaining the machinery that were used for the transportation. The Obelisk is decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II.You know what...In 1992, a French AIDS fighting society made a statement. A giant pink condom was unrolled over the whole monument. LOL! I couldn't believe it till i saw the photo here -- http://www.civismemoria.fr/contribution/?module=contrib&contrib=862
From the Obelisk, you can see the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elysées.It was time for a break! While sitting at a bench, I was approached by another female traveller who asked me where the Invalides was...hahaha..before I pointed her in the general direction, i warned her, I'm a tourist too! (Did we look local?!)...oh well...I hope she did find her way there eventually...
Ironically, we were heading for the Invalides next! =) And you can see it as the dome looking shape in the pic above.Walking there, we crossed the Pont Alexander III bridge that had a dozen other statues carved atop tall pillars at intervals...but i liked the lamposts!..hehehe...
I realise I look like a peacock here lor!!!!...HAHAHA...
Right through the back entrance of Les Invalides....
...and into the main square...We had brunch here -- I know, sure kenna tourist prices! But really, there was hardly any makan places on our trek over. So don't reason with hungry tummys!
But really the prices weren't that bad, except that I probably had the most miserable 4 skinny skinny drumlets simmered in what looks like tomato sauce with rice...hmmm..nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I must have attacked ge's food too...hehehe...
But really the prices weren't that bad, except that I probably had the most miserable 4 skinny skinny drumlets simmered in what looks like tomato sauce with rice...hmmm..nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I must have attacked ge's food too...hehehe...
Les Invalides is a a shortened form of Hôpital des invalides (hospital for invalids) and was originally conceived by King Louis XIV as a hospital and retirement home for aged and unwell soldiers.
It houses the tombs and hearts (yes, hearts!) of french war heroes as well as selected generals that served under Napoleon Bonaparte.
And of course, most prominently, Napoleon's tomb (below)...OK...this tomb is huge! and from what i remember the man is said to be not very tall...The Audio guide i'm using here soon enlightened me that they cocooned his body in multiple cases of metals and wood...--no wonder lah...it's big you know!!!
His tomb is located in the basement directly under the dome, in front of the cross, and can be seen from the ground level.
ge's photos can give you a perspective of that...=)I like the photo below! =D
The entire Les Invalides, beyond the hospital, also contains museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France.
We saw amazing rifles and guns, so intricately engraved with designs, almost no two guns were the same! There's a name for those rifles, what I can't remember now...=)Of course, rifles/ guns that belonged to those higher up in the command chain were more elaborate and unique in design.
As an eye opener it included Armour for teens....
...horses....
....and mini sized one that look like they are for toddlers no more than the age of 5!!!!
The Chapel located in Invalides that is flanked above by original flags won by Napoleon in the wars. At this point I commented to ge, that it would still be stained with blood lor...Muhahaha...
The organ behind look like crystals! =)One thing I wanted to see at the invalides was Napoleon's Stuffed horse...I know it's gross...but how often do you get to see a FAMOUS stuffed horse?!?!...supposedly his dog is stuffed there toos...
But we couldnt' find it...=( although we walked alot and saw alot of other interesting things! =D
Checking online now, we were in the right miltary museum, but must have missed one of the rooms that had the horse! =S whose name is Vizir, one of his favs...
Oh well....no biggie lah...hee...
The gold plated (yep, REAL gold) was constucted with 6 kg of gold leaf added to celebrate the bicentenary of the revolution and can be seen from a far off!
Parting shot as we exit the Invalides from the front entrance and start mapping our way to the Eiffel Tower! =D
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