France - Paris day 06 - Arc de Triomphe

 The Arc de Triomphe (de l'Étoile) was designed in 1806, after Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz and completed in 1836.It is 50 meters in height.

 It is covered by statuary of heroic nude Frenchmen battling bearded and mustached Germans.

 On the inside arch it has battles France has participated in.

 After the long climb to the top (included in the museum pass plus you skip lines), it has spectacular 360 degree views. Try to go a half hour prior to sunset for the best transition views from light to dark.

 The Arch of Defense to the North West is seen here.

 Another famous landmark...what was its name?

 The eternal flame for the unknown soldier burns beneath it.

It looks quite nice at night.

France - Paris day 05 - Louvre Empire era

The Empire era started in the early 1800's with the establishment of Napoleon as emperor of France. Both he and Napoleon the third had rooms redone for them to live at the Louvre.

France - Paris day 05 - Louvre big paintings

France -Paris day 05 - Louvre Egyptian area

France - Paris day 05 - Louvre introduction

The Louvre is big. By big I mean really big. By really big I mean humongous.  Get the idea? In the above picture, see the building on the left and the smaller looking structure extending into the park. That's not only not small and not only part of the Louvre but there is another extension just like it on the right side. Just over 60, 000 square meters.

Originally built as a fortress in the 1200's, and as a palace until 1682 when the king left for Versailles and a French Academy moved in to look after the art and sculpture. The museum then opened to the public on and off until today when it is one of the largest and most popular museums in the world.

Because it was a palace, look around the objects presented once in a while and you will be rewarded. There are fantastic views outside and the rooms and ceilings are worthy of the house of kings and emperors.

If you feel museum fatigue, just go to another section to refresh yourself.  If you have a Paris museum pass, you can come and go as you like. For a secret was in with the pass, when in the courtyard with the pyramid,  face North and take the right pedestrian walkway. There is a security checkpoint for staff, groups and pass holders.

For the purpose of this blog, I will be posting on each section separately. Do not do the museum in one day unless you are only doing two sections. The museum is split into the following sections: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. There are sub sections in the Louvre for some of these sections that take up a lot of room; sculpure, decorative art, and paintings for instance. Take your time and see it over two or more days. Photos are permitted but flashes are not. They damage the art and sculpture.

France - Paris day 03 - Cluny Museum

This Abbott's Townhome, or hotel, was built Iin the 1300's and converted to a Museum for the gothic past of France in 1843.

 This statue was part of a crypt and they have been removed for a better display.

The stained glass has been displayed wonderfully at eye level and backlit for proper enjoyment.

This is the ceiling of the chapel and reminded my wife and I of the buildings of Rivendell.

Here are the buried heads from Notre Dame, I posted about earlier.

They have incredible works of devotional art. This is quite the world class medieval museum.

The unicorn and the lady tapestries are one of the main draws for visitors and scolars.

This a book on learning medieval combat from the 1300's.

There was a class of extremely talented students of art, drawing statuary.