PARIS
WHILE WE WERE THERE
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 99

Les Halles

The French Commodities Exchange, La Bourse du Commerce is a round building built in the 18th century, and later modified in the 19th. The site however has been occupied for the last 800 years.

Saint Eustache Cathedral has its origins in a church dedicated to Saint Agnes.The church is 105 meters long by 43 meters. The exterior of the church is very ornate and beautiful and has a gothic architecture like Notre Dame. Its principal characteristics are its pillars and arches and its choir. The church distinguishes itself by the variety of its architecture: The interior is gothic, but the decor itself is done in Renaissance style. Several famous people areburied within its walls, such as Molière, Richelieu, and the marquise dePompadour. On the exterior of the church, one finds numerous gargoyles,which makes the architecture particularly admirable.

A Short History of The Louvre - The Museum

The Place de la Concorde, which is the largest place in Paris, is situated along the Seine and separates the Tuilerie Gardens from the beginning of the Champs Elysées. It is in the 8th arrondissement, or district, of the city.

The place today maintains the general appearance that it had in the eighteenth century. The statue of Louis XV, removed during the Revolution, was replaced by the Obelisk of Luxor given by the viceroy of Egypt, Mohamed Ali, to Louis Phillipe. The obelisk, 22.83 meters high and weighing 230 tons, which marked the entrance to the Amon temple at Luxor, was installed in 1836. Hittorf completed the decoration of the place between 1833 and 1846. The obelisk is at the center of an oval whose two centers are fountains constructed at the same period.

Les Jardins de Touilleries

Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, it was not finished until 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot); Resistance , and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise (Rude).

Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, are to found on the inside walls. Generals whose names are underlined died in action.

Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars.

Champs Elysees

The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen.

At 300 metres (320.75m including antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930.

View from the Eiffel Tower

Les Halles		The French Commodities Exchange, La Bourse du Commerce is a round building built in the 18th century, and later modified in the 19th. The site however has been occupied for the last 800 years.
Saint Eustache Cathedral has its origins in a church dedicated to Saint Agnes.The church is 105 meters long by 43 meters. The exterior of the church is very ornate and beautiful and has a gothic architecture like Notre Dame. Its principal characteristics are its pillars and arches and its choir. The church distinguishes itself by the variety of its architecture: The interior is gothic, but the decor itself is done in Renaissance style. Several famous people areburied within its walls, such as Molière, Richelieu, and the marquise dePompadour. On the exterior of the church, one finds numerous gargoyles,which makes the architecture particularly admirable.	A Short History of The Louvre - The Museum	The Place de la Concorde, which is the largest place in Paris, is situated along the Seine and separates the Tuilerie Gardens from the beginning of the Champs Elysées. It is in the 8th arrondissement, or district, of the city. The place today maintains the general appearance that it had in the eighteenth century. The statue of Louis XV, removed during the Revolution, was replaced by the Obelisk of Luxor given by the viceroy of Egypt, Mohamed Ali, to Louis Phillipe. The obelisk, 22.83 meters high and weighing 230 tons, which marked the entrance to the Amon temple at Luxor, was installed in 1836. Hittorf completed the decoration of the place between 1833 and 1846. The obelisk is at the center of an oval whose two centers are fountains constructed at the same period.
Les Jardins de Touilleries	Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, it was not finished until 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot); Resistance , and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise (Rude). Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, are to found on the inside walls. Generals whose names are underlined died in action. Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars.
Champs Elysees
The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen. At 300 metres (320.75m including antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930.		View from the Eiffel Tower

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