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| Louvre Museum courtyard |
The Louvre Museum courtyard is crowned by a metal glass pyramid which serves as the main entrance to the museum. The pyramid and the surrounded small pyramids were constructed and opened in the 1980's. This pyramid would lead you to an immense underground complex that housed not only thefour entry wings to the louvre museum but also the underground shopping mall, Carrousel du Louvre; auditorium, fast foods, parking areas and depots. To avoid the crowd at the ground level, we entered the louvre museum from the mall's entry located at 99 Rue de Rivoli in the 1st arrondissement. Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 and 7) is the nearest metro stop.
I love PARIS!!! Who does not? I always include Paris in the itinerary whenever we go for Europe tour and we make sure the visit to get the most of it. If only I could stay here for a month, I would be the happiest. Everyday I would be either out walking around or visiting the museums. This was our third visit to Paris, included in our 2018 Europe tour. We were here for three days. We had spent the first day at Picasso museum in the morning and at the Louvre museum from 3pm to past 8pm. This day, we were to visit Musee D Orsay, Rodin and the Arc de Triomphe. It was summer, we had a very long day. We visited D Orsay from its opening. We had stayed at Prince Albert hotel located at the 1st arrondissement, very near to the Louvre museum. D Orsay was just across Seine and would take only few minutes steps. However, we were in the most touristy spots and with a very bright morning, such a great time to walk all the way to the most popular bridge, Pont Alexandre III through the Tuileries gardens, Concorde Place and the sights of the beautiful buildings: Grand Palais, Petite Palais and the Invalides.
We were booked at the Hotel Prince Albert Louvre located at 5 rue Saint Hyacinthe 1st Arr., 75001 Paris. We booked direct to their website which I found cheaper if we booked through other platforms. We paid for the room for two, €228 for two nights, breakfast was included, from 18 May 2018. The place is close to the Louvre museum. A bit dated though, it was not an issue for the reasonable price.
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| view of the Louvre Museum courtyard from the Louvre Museum |
The main courtyard of the Louvre is also known as the Nouveau Louvre or Louvre de Napoléon III. It was an expansion during the second empire in France led by Napoleon in the 1850's
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| Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel |
The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was built during the reign of the emperor Napoleon I, between 1806 and 1808. The design was inspired by the Arch of Constantine (312 AD) in Rome. The arch served as a gateway to the Tuileries Palace, the Imperial residence. The said palace, however, had been destroyed during the Paris Commune in 1871 to fully end the Imperial system.. To its west, about 3.4km, towards the end of the Champs Élysées, is the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, twice bigger than the du Carrousel. Both arches were planned and designed at the same year to commemorate the military victories of Napoleon in the previous year's war. The larger one though was just completed in 1836.
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| Seine River, Paris, France |
Just before we continued the walks towards Tuileries garden, at the south side, stood from the Pont du Carrousel, is the best romantic view, Seine River. Included in our 2013 trip to Paris was a round trip Seine River cruise and a walk along the Seine River banks
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| Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) |
Tuileries Garden is approximately 22 hectares in size, redesigned symmetrically in French style extending from the Louvre to Concorde. The garden was originally designed in Italian style in the 14th century commissioned by Queen Catherine Medici as the garden of the Tuileries Palace. On my left side, an entry from Rue du Rivoli to the garden through a staircase along the terrace des Feuiillants.
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| Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) |
An annual funfair is set every summer with 60 and over attractions to be enjoyed by everyone who are in Paris.
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| Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) Paris, France |
Tuileries garden is like an open museum with about 100 copy of the sculptures by Rodin, Louise Bourgeois, Alberto Giacomett, Henry Moore, Jean Dubuffet and Giuseppe Penone decorated around.
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| Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) Paris, France |
Part of the site where the destroyed Tuileries Palace stood. The Palace was built between the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Tuileries garden with the facade of 266 meters, south end near the Seine River and the north end was close to the present Rue de Rivoli.
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| Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) Paris, France |
The large square in the eastern part of the Tuileries garden is decorated with the round pond encircled with reclining chairs, free for public use.
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| Le Grand Couvert of the Tuileries (Grand Couvert) |
The Grand Couvert is the area in the Tuileries garden that is covered with trees. The walk way leads to the Octagonal pond from the round pond in the Large Square.
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| View of The Grand Carré (Large Square) towards the Louvre in the East separated by the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel |
The Grand Carré (Large Square) with the round pond was the private garden of the king under Louis Philippe and Napoleon III. It was then separated by fence from the rest of the Tuileries garden.
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| Bassin Octogonal and Fer à Cheval (horseshoe) ramps towards Place de la Concorde |
Bassin Octogonal is one of the two big ponds in the Tuileries Garden.
Not at all times there is this big wheel at Place de la Concorde. Normally, the background in this view is the obelisk. The 42-gondolas Roue de Paris has been opened since the millennium from the 3rd week of November to the 2nd week of May. This year, it has ended on the 18th of May. This walk was on the 19th and the wheel was being dismantled which could take 60 hours. Thus, explains the presence of the crane.
On the left corner of the Tuileries garden, close to the Seine and before the Place de la Concorde, is the Musée de l'Orangerie. Latter is an art gallery of impressionist and post impressionist paintings. Such a pity I was not able to visit during this 2018 tour and 2020 tour. The museum houses the masterpieces by Claude Monet, the series of waterlilies, since 1922 and some collections by the great artists in the 20th century such as Picasso, Renoir, Matisse and Cezzane. Oh my my! such a missed! I will surely plan a 5th visit to Paris. Outside the museum are copy of the sculptures by Rodin such as The Kiss. Fortunately, I got to see the original of The Kiss at the Rodin museum, in Paris also.
A cup or two of gelato a day when in Europe 😃
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| Place de la Concorde, Paris, France |
Place de la Concorde is another historical square in Paris sprawled out over 20 acres. The square is designed with the ancient Egyptian Luxor obelisk in the center and with two almost identical beautiful fountains on both side. The square was an execution site during the French Revolution where King Louis VI and his queen, Marie Antoinette were guillotined.
Place de la Concorde was constructed in 1772 to honor the then king, Louis XV. The square was initially named after the king, Place Louis XV. The original design of the square was different from the current design. A large equestrian statue of King Louis XV was placed in the center. The obelisk and the fountains were not yet there then.
King Louis XVI succeeded the throne after the death of his grandfather in 1774. Trouble has started, people had been complaining the failure by the ancient regime to manage the social and economical crisis. The king was accused of incompetency and worst, resolvied the issues by tax increase. After 15 years of his reign, the French Revolution started. The equestrian statue of King Louis XV was removed and was replaced with guillotine. The square was renamed Place de la Revolution. King Louis XVI was overthrown and was executed in the square in front of the cheering crowds in January 1789. Queen Marie Antoinette had the same fate nine months later.
The square was renamed to Place Louis XVI in 1826 after the fall of Napoleon in honor of the fallen king. The eldest daughter of King Louis XVI, Marie Therese of France, was the Dauphine of France when her father in-law was crowned King of France in 1824. Second revolution had started sometime in 1829. The square was renamed again to Place de la Concorde. The Luxor obelisk was actually gifted to France before the Royal family were overthrown and were forced to abdicate in 1830.
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| Avenue des Champs-Élysées |
Place de la Concorde is n between of the marvelous Avenue des Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement and the vast Jardin des Tuileries in the 1st arrondissement. Towards west, through the elegant avenue of manicured giant trees is the the Arc de Triomphe at the Place Charles de Gaulle. Avenue des Champs-Élysées is considered the most beautiful avenue in the world , 1.9 km long and 70 meters wide
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| Place de la Concorde toward Rue Royale, Paris, France |
On the northern border of the Place de la Concorde are the two identical palaces, the Hôtel de Crillon, a five-star hotel and the Hôtel de la Marine, offices of the French navy. These buildings were built almost the same time as the square originally intended for government office.
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| Luxor Obelisk on Place de la Concorde, Paris, France |
At the center of the Place de la Concorde is the Luxor Obelisk. Latter has been the prominent feature of the square since it was installed in 1836. It was a gift from Egypt in 1829, The monument stands 23 meters high and is said to be 3,000 years old. The obelisk stood outside the Luxor temple on the east side of the Nile River in Egypt before it was shipped to Paris. Its hieroglyphs refer to the reign of Ramesses II.
From the year 2000, from November to May of the following year, a 65-meter Big Wheel is constructed in the Place de la Concorde in alignment with the Arc de Triomphe as part of the Christmas village on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. It offers spectacular views of Paris as the 42 pods are rotated slowly.
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| Fontaines des Fleuves – Fountains of the Rivers. Place de la Concorde, Paris, France |
On the Place de la Concorde, there are two beautiful fountains placed on the northern and southern side of the Luxor Obelisk. the fountains are identical in form but not the decorations.
The fountain on the northern side, aligned to Rue Royale and the Madeleine Church was named Fontaines des Fleuves – Fountains of the Rivers. It commemorates France’s Navigation, Agricultural and Industry. The two largest figures in this fountain represent the Rhone and Rhine Rivers. The other sculptures in the basin represent the Grapes and Wheat Crops. The half-naked figure sitting on the boat bow represents the coat of arms of the City of Paris.
The fountain on the southern side, closest to the Seine was named Fontaine des Mers- Fountain of the Seas. It commemorates France’s Maritime Trade and Industry. Following its theme, the fountain is decorated with sculptures in the upper basin which represents France’s Spirit of Maritime Navigation, Astronomy and Trade. The allegorical sculptures in the lower basin symbolize the Mediterranean, the Ocean and Fishing.
The two fountains were similarly decorated with half naked Tritons or Neriads holding dolphins spraying water from their mouth. These figures wear necklaces, head ornaments and bracelets representing stuff from the sea such as corals, poisons, beads and shells
The monumental fountains were completed in 1840 created by the architect of the square, Jacques Ignace Hittorff. They are made of cast iron decorated with bronze sculptures designed by various sculptures who had worked with the architect, Hittorff. The fountains are inspired from those on St. Peter's Square in Rome.
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| Palais Bourbon on the south side of the Place de la Concorde across Pont de la Concorde at the 7th arrondissement, Paris, France |
On the south of the Place de la Concorde is the River Seine. On the left bank of the river, crossed by the Pont de la Concorde, is the Palais Bourbon at the 7th arrondissement. The bridge Pont de la Concorde was built by Jean-Rodolphe Perronnet between 1787–1790 and widened in 1930–1932. The Palais Bourbon is the home of the French National Assembly, the lower legislative chamber of the French Government
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| Place de la Concorde with the view of the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France |
Place de la Concorde was built in the shape of an octagon. Beautiful statues were placed in each of its eight corners the same time the square was constructed in the 18th century. Each of the statue represents a French City:
Lyon and Marseille on the southeast side of the square by Pierre Petitot
Brest and Rouen on the northwest side of the square by Jean-Pierre Cortot
Bordeaux and Nantes on the southwest side of the square by Louis-Denis Caillouette
Lille and Strasbourg on the northeast side of the square by James Pradier.
When Alsace-Lorraine was lost to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871 , it had been a practice the Strasbourg statue was covered in black mourning crepe on state occasions and decorated with wreaths until France regained the region following World War I.
Place de la Concorde is in the 8th arrondissement. The nearest metro: Concorde on Lines 1, 8, 12. You could continue the walk from here to the Arc of the Triomphe. Ours though continued toward Pont Alexander III, the bridge next to Pont de la Concorde.
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| Pont Alexander III, Paris, France |
Pont Alexander III is one of the bridges in Paris spanning the Seine and connects the 7th arrondissements on the left bank and the 8th arrondissements on the right bank. The ornate bridge was named after the Tsar Alexander III of Russia symbolizing the peaceful relationship between France and Russia. The foundation of the stone of the bridge was laid in person by Tsar Nicholar II, the son of Tsar Alexander III, in 1896. The inauguration was held during the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900. The Franco-Russian Alliance was initiated and concluded by Tsar Alexander III and Sadi Carnot, the President of the French Republic at the time in 1891
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| Pont Alexander III, Paris, France |
Pont Alexander III is a steel arch bridge designed to blend with the Paris skyline and specifically not to obstruct the view to the building of Les Invalides, where the tomb of Napoleon is located. The bridge is about 154 meters in length and 45 meters wide. The bridge was lavishly decorated with art nouveau lamps, cherubs, nymphs and four pillars on each corner. It is considered the most ornate and expensive bridge in the world. It has been listed as an historic monument since 1975.
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| Pont Alexander III, Paris, France |
Pont Alexander III connects the Esplanade des Invalides in the 7th arrondissement to the Avenue Wilson Churchill in the 8th arrondissement. The four pillars standing at each corner of the bridge were built not just for decoration but as part of the structure, to stabilize counterweights for the steel arches. The supporting columns were extravagantly decorated with pilasters, statues and embelishments. The female statue in front of each pillar represents time in French history. Those on the south bank, towards Les Invalides, represent the times of Louis XIV and the Renaissance. On the north bank represent the time of Charlemagne and the modern France.
On top of pillar are statues of a lady restraining a winged pegasus. The statues were made of bronze plated with gold. These statues on the side of the Avenue Wilson Churchill represent Renommée des Sciences ("Fame of the Sciences") and the Renommée des Arts ("Fame of the Arts"). Those on the side of the Esplanade Les Invalides represent Renommée du Commerce ("Fame of Commerce") by Pierre Granet [fr] and Renommée de l'Industrie ("Fame of Industry")
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| Pont Alexander III toward Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris, France |
Towards north from the Pont Alexander III leads to the Champs-Elysées, passing in front of the Grand Palais and the Petite Palais, both of which were also built for the Universal Exhibition.
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| Grand Palais, Paris, France |
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| Petit Palais, Paris, France |
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| Nymphs of the Neva relief at the center of the Pont Alexander III arch (downstream) |
Back to the Pont Alexander III. There are two large Nymph reliefs at the middle part of the arches facing each side of the river each with two hammered copper sculptures representing the water spirits.. Downstream, the Nymphs of the Neva and the Imperial Russia coat of arms in honor of the river running through Saint Petesburg. Upstream, the Nymphs of Seine and the Paris coat of arms in honor of the river running through Paris
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| the other side of the Nymph relief at Pont Alexander III, Paris, France |
In the Imperial Russia, the Trinity Bridge was built in Saint Petersburg to commemorate the Franco-Russian alliance. The first stone was laid in 1897 by French president Félix Faure
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| view from Pont Alexander III on the left bank towards Les Invalides through the Esplanade des Invalides |
You may want to visit first the two nearest museums: Grand Palais and Petite Palais. Or you could continue the walk towards south and visit Les Invalides where the tomb of Napoleon is located. We headed back to the east through the left bank of Seine to Musée d'Orsay. We wanted to be there before its opening to avoid crowd,
continued from checkout Musée Picasso
continued to Musée d'Orsay
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