Paris Travelogue] (3) From the Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe - Paris Royal Route and View from the Arc de Triomphe
Now that my stay in Paris has begun, I am finally going out to explore the city. The first thing I would like to do is to visit the Arc de Triomphe. This is the most standard of all, but I decided to visit here first to see Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
The starting point for a stroll is the Place de la Concorde, the heart of Paris.
There are several large streets stretching straight from this square, one of which is the Champs-Elysées, and the Arc de Triomphe stands at the end of it.
Although the Champs-Elysées is often thought of as a fashionable avenue lined with cafes and boutiques, a walk from the Place de la Concorde revealed a very different atmosphere.
The area immediately after the square is lined on both sides with park-like areas, and does not have the fashionable atmosphere that I had imagined. The view remained the same even after walking for more than 10 minutes. I was surprised to see how different the Champs Elysées is just by walking in a slightly different area.
The Champs-Elysées is finally starting to look like the Champs-Elysées. Cafes, restaurants, and boutiques line the street, and the atmosphere along the street has clearly changed. The number of pedestrians suddenly increased. Hmmm...this is the Champs Elysées I had imagined.
The Arc de Triomphe is approaching. I had never really connected the Arc de Triomphe with the Champs-Elysées until I actually arrived in Paris, but I learned that the Arc de Triomphe is located in the bustling neighborhood of the Champs-Elysées.
Finally, the Arc de Triomphe is in sight.
Oh...is this the Arc de Triomphe? Indeed, this is an imposing power!
What a shame for Napoleon not to have been able to see this...!
The construction of this Arc de Triomphe Etoile began in 1806 by order of Napoleon, but was not completed until 1836.
In 1806, Napoleon was at the height of his success, winning war after war and enjoying overwhelming success in domestic politics.
However, a failed expedition to Moscow in 1812 and defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 doomed him, and he ended his life on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic in 1821.
He passed through this triumphal arch in 1840, when his body was reburied in the Invalides in Paris. Nearly 20 years after his death, he finally made his triumphant return to this huge monument that he himself had ordered to be built.
The circumstances and background of this reburial in the Invalides are also very interesting, but I will leave that for a later article.
This is the entrance line to go up to the Arc de Triomphe. I also got in line and headed for the observation deck of the Arc de Triomphe.
The Arc de Triomphe has to be climbed up by stairs, so it is recommended to have enough stamina to take on the challenge.
We have come to the observatory. From here, you can get a great view of Paris all the way around.
This is the Avenue des Champs Elysées where we have been walking so far. You can see that the boulevard runs through it in a neat straight line.
The Eiffel Tower is also clearly visible. The gold-roofed building a little to the left of the center is the Invalides, where Napoleon's tomb is located.
And here is the view from the Arc de Triomphe toward Montmartre Hill in the northeast direction. Note the huge building standing on the hill near the center of the photo. There is the Sacré-Coeur temple, which I consider very important in Paris.
Let's zoom in for a closer look.
The huge Sacré Coeur temple sits in a position that seems to overlook the whole of Paris.
My strong interest in this church is due to the French writer Emile Zola.
Zola.Paris.The film, "The Sacré Coeur Temple," depicts the Sacré Coeur Temple as the main setting and beautifully depicts the French society of the time. I was strongly impressed by this work, and since then I have had a strong interest in this church.
I will talk about this church more slowly in another article.
I looked at Paris from the Arc de Triomphe like a bird's-eye view, so to speak. Yes, like Rastignac.
Rastignac is a Balzac'sOld Gorio."He is the protagonist of the
Dostoevsky also loved this work when he was young,Crime and Punishment."It is also known for its significant influence on the
The scene at the end of the story where Rastignac looks down on Paris from Montmartre Hill and declares, "Now it's you and me," is one of the most famous scenes in the history of literature.
Unfortunately, I was looking down on Paris from the Arc de Triomphe, not Montmartre, but my mind was still filled with Rastignac's words.
The act of "looking down on the city of Paris" has a mysterious magic power. The view from the Arc de Triomphe made me realize this.
Next Article.
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