Paris, the capital and the largest city in
France is home for nearly 3,500 historical monuments and four UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. Here are some of monuments and memorials in Paris that you must
not miss when visiting Paris.
Arc
de Triomphe
 |
| Arc de Triomphe with the French Flag (Best example for Neoclassical architecture) |
Arc de Triomphe is a 164 feet high monument
and one among Paris’s most famous monuments. This monument is one of the finest
examples of Neoclassical architecture style. The commissioning of Arc de
Triomphe began in 1806; however, the entire construction was completed only in
1836 as the construction was halted for various reasons. The masterminds behind
this famous monument are Jean Chalgrin, Louis-Etienne Hericart de Thury. Arc de
Triomphe holds a lot of sculptures, reliefs, details about some of the great
battles, etc. With the help of a lift, visitors can reach the top of the
monument and can get a panoramic view of the Paris city (one has to climb the
last 46 steps).
Cleopatra’s
Needle
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| Cleopatra's Needle or Luxor Obelisk |
Cleopatra’s Needle is an ancient Egyptian
obelisk and is re-erected in three cities, namely, London, Paris and New York.
If you think this has any connection with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, it is not
so. They were already more than thousand years old when Queen Cleopatra was
alive. Cleopatra’s Needle at Paris once served as the entrance to the Luxor
Temple. Cleopatra’s Needle is also sometimes referred as “Luxor Obelisk.” It
is 23 meters high and is made of red granite. The total weight of the obelisk
is believed to be 250 tonnes.
Flame
of Liberty
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| Flame of Liberty, above the tunnel of Pont de l'Alma where Princess Diana died in an accident |
One can notice a torch with flame in the
hands of Statue of Liberty, one of the wonders of the world at the New York City;
Flame of Liberty is a gold leaf covered replica of the flame in the torch. This
monument is 3.5 meters high and is located in the 8th
arrondissement. International Herald Tribune offered this to represent the
celebration of 100 years (completed in 1987) of publishing an English language
newspaper in Paris in 1989. This also served as a token of friendship when the
restoration work in the Statue of Liberty took place. This is one of the major
tourist attractions for Diana followers after she died in an accident in a
tunnel beneath Pont de l’Alma.
July
Column
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| Colonne de Juillet with the three glorious (Trois Glorieuses) dates of July |
July Column (Colonne de Juillet) is yet
another famous monument in Paris that commemorates “Trois Glorieuses” or the “Three
Glorious” days in the month of July during the Revolution of 1830 when the “July
Monarchy” of Louis-Philippe commenced with the fall of Charles X of France. this
project actually started to commemorate the “Fall of the Bastille” in the year
1792; however, the project did not get past the foundation laying stage. It is
154 feet high and weighs 74,000 kilograms.
Pantheon,
Paris
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| Pantheon de Paris, a church converted as a mausoleum |
When said Paris, can anyone forget
Pantheon? Yes, Pantheon (located in the 5th arrondissement) is one
of the must see mausoleum in Paris; this was initially built as a church that
was dedicated to St. Genevieve and for her relics. This is yet another best
example for Neoclassical architecture styles. The masterminds behind this
famous mausoleum are architects Jacques-Germain Soufflot and Jean-Baptiste
Rondelet.
