Louis Xvi And Marie Antoinette Lifestyle
May 23rd, 2009
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Louis Xvi And Marie Antoinette Lifestyle
Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and unveiled in 1755, the place de la Concorde stands at the opposite end of the Champs-Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe and was formerly known as the place Louis XV. This square is probably most famous for being the site of the guillotine during the French REvolution in the late 1700s, when it was called place de la Revolution. King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette and Madame du Barry, the mistress of King Louis XV, were among those executed here.
It was renamed place de la Concorde in 1795, and its impressive buildings are now ranked the best of their period. To the north are two fine stone buildings housing the Hotel de Crillon and government offices, fountains and the Obelisk of Luxor, inscribed with hieroglyphics detailing the reign of the pharaoh Ramesses II.
A gift of the viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, in 1829, the 3,000 year old obelisk is said to weigh over 250 tonnes and once stood at the entrance to Luxor Temple. It was brought to the place de la Concorde under the orders of King Louis-Philippe in 1833. Engravings detail the special machinery and manoeuvres that were used to transport and position it. It marks the spot where the guillotine stood.
To the east of the place de la Concorde is the Jardin des Tuileries, with the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, a museum of contemporary art, and the Musee de l’Orangerie in view, while to the west is the Champs-Elysees and to the northeast the rue de Rivoli.
The River Seine lies along the southern side of this rectangular-shaped square, where the 18th century Pont de la Concorde crosses to the Left Bank. Each corner of the square has statues that represent the well-known French cities of Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Brest and Rouen.
For more information about Paris, France visit http://www.GuidedTourParis.com
Written by Harry Preston a regular contributor to http://www.GuidedTourVenice.com
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