Paris
Eiffel Tower
Le Louvre
La Joconde
Les Champs-Elysées
Le Musée d’Orsay
Tour Eiffel
Built in 1889 for the World’s Fair
An engineering feat for that time
Tallest structure in the world until 1930 Symbol of Paris and France Most famous monument in the world Affectionately called “The Iron Lady”
Opéra Garnier
A lake lies beneath the cellars of the building. Stage has room for up to 450 artists Central chandelier weighs over six tons Ceiling painted in 1964 by Chagall Made famous by “Phantom of the Opera”
Le Louvre
Richest art museum in the world Home of la Joconde (Mona Lisa), Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory A fortress, a palace, a prison, and now an art museum. I.M. Pei, an American, is the architect of the glass pyramid.
Arc de Triomphe
Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his victories. The four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars commemorate: The Triumph of 1810 Resistance Peace The Departure of the Volunteers (La Marseillaise) Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars.
Notre Dame
Construction began in 1163 and completed about 1345.
During the Revolution, many treasures were destroyed. Only the great bells avoided being melted down. The church interior was used as a warehouse for storage. A restoration program was begun in 1845 and lasted 23 years.
Notre Dame was made popular by Victor Hugo In his novel “Notre Dame de Paris (Hunchback of Notre Dame.) 1430, Henri VI of England is crowned here. 2 December 1804, Napoleon crowned himself emperor in Notre Dame Cathedral. 26 August 1944, a mass celebrated the liberation of Paris.
Conciergerie
A place of irony! Once a place of imprisonment, torture, and death, it is now the Palais de Justice complex. The Cuisines has four large fireplaces, each large enough to roast an entire ox. Built by Philippe the Fair (1284-1314.) Marie Antoinette spent her last days here as a prisoner before she was beheaded. Her cell is now a chapel to her memory.
Works Cited
• http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Opera/ • http://www.paris.org/Monuments/NDame/ • http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Conciergerie/gifs/conci ergerie1.html • http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/na/pc/cp/pc006600 .htm • http://www.atkielski.com/inlink.html?/PhotoGallery/Paris/ Eiffel/EiffelTowerSmall.html • http://www.paris.org/Musees/Orsay/info.html • http://www.geocities.com/~sralph/m20.html