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| At the Louvre |
We made a beeline for the Louvre Palace the next day. Louvre, as is well
known, is one of the largest museums in the world. Originally built as a
fortress in the late 12th Century, Louis the XIV left it in favour
of the Versailles Palace. Louvre was left behind as a place for display of his
collections. Since then it has thrived as a museum containing a wide range of
prized and famous exhibits from practically all parts of the world. Most of the
pieces were from personal collections and later those that were seized during
campaigns abroad were also added.
The most significant contributions were made
to the museum by
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| ArT Champs Elysees |
Napolean III in the 19th Century when more than 10000
artworks, antiquities, etc. were added. Today it is reported to be having for
display 380,000 objects and 35000 works of art. Everything from sculptures to
paintings, or sundry items that are of best and most valued for a museum are on
display. It needs sustained pursuit and several days to cover the whole of the
museum – the kind of time that we didn’t have. There is something for everybody,
from pre-historic to ancient, Classical, Medieval to Gothic to Renaissance and
so on. We saw some of the fabulous paintings of world
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| Notre Dame |
renowned European artists
of Renaissance and of various schools like romanticists, impressionists, realists
etc. Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was there and so was the famous ancient Venus D Milo.
The pyramids that one now sees in front of the main entrance were not there
when we visited the Louvre. These were completed in 1989 to facilitate entry
into the Museum and for proceeding directly to the section one wanted to visit.
The Triumphal Arch – The Arch of Triumph – is another of the monuments
of Paris that is visited by thousands of tourists every day. It has inspired
many more such arches elsewhere. Our own India Gate at Delhi is considered a
reworked version of the Arch of Triumph. The architect Edwin
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| The Arch of Triumph |
Lutyens was
probably more inspired by the design of the Paris
Arch. An iconic monument, it
stands in the middle of the Charles De Gaulle Place (earlier known as the Place
de l’Etoile) at one end of the main thoroughfare of Paris, the tree-lined boulevard
Champs Elysees. It is said that that it was the tallest arch until the Mexican
one came up in 1938. The Arch was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon after the
victory in Austerlitz. Standing tall at around 50 metres and with a width of
about 20 metres it is an imposing structure with beautiful significant
sculptures and friezes. As many as 12 avenues radiate from it in different
directions. It is to be seen to be believed.
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| At Place de la Concorde |
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| Another view of Notre Dame |
At the other end of the Champs Elysees is the Place de la Concorde is a
huge public square from where one can see the Arch of Triumph at the far end.
It is where Louis the XVI was guillotined during the French Revolution when it
was renamed as Place de la Revolution. Other significant people who were
chopped down here were Queen Marie Antionette, the lawyer revolutionary Robespierre,
Madame du Barry etc. The Square is acres and acres of land surrounded by
beautiful gilded buildings with an obelisk somewhere in the centre. The
approach to it is thoroughly interesting – through tree-line boulevard of
Champs Elysees with huge shops and cafes which had tables with checked table
cloths and chairs waiting for custom. The place has tremendous atmosphere which
has to be savoured and cherished.
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| At Place de la Concorde |
The other major place of interest is Notre Dame, the Catholic cathedral
in Paris, the seat of the city’s Archdicese. I remember when my late brother
came back from Frankfurt way back in 1953 and told us he had been to Paris too
my father asked him whether he had been to Notre Dame. Since then we have been
aware of this famous cathedral. This is perhaps the only Gothic church in Paris
and is
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| At Arch of Triumph |
considered as one of the largest in the world with around 5000 square
metres of floor space. It has various architectural features which were innovative
used later by architects in other structures, for example the flying buttresses
(an arch that supports a wall). Its portals are heavily decorated. Its spire is
so pointed it seems as if it is piercing the sky. Its stained glass windows are
fabulous and the church is reputed to have fantastic acoustics. Situated close
to the River Seine it sort of dominates the River with its presence,
particularly so because of its vast plaza which provides stunning views of the façade.
Full of statuary, the Cathedral is virtually a work of art – architecture and
sculpture mingling together effortlessly.
Paris is perhaps the finest city I have ever visited. Its avenues,
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| Notre Dame and its pointed spire |
broad
boulevards and uniform skyline (unlike the confused skyline of ours) and
tasteful gilding of most buildings which are more or less of the same height
are admirable. It has history and there is so much to see. It is after all a
planned city built to the planners’ specifications and most of the buildings
are more or less homogeneous in design. One feels that a great amount of
thought was paid to the element of perspective while building the city. The
River Seine adds to its beauty as it wends its way through the city. Its banks
not only are superb and exuding romance they are ideal places for loving couples
to snuggle and cuddle. No wonder, it is known as the most romantic of cities. The people are gorgeous – the men and women
are instinctively fashionable; Paris being the fashion capital of the world.
They dress well love to flaunt their accoutrements and equipage . It is an
amazing place and it leaves one wondering as to how it really ticks.
*(Concluded)
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