Arc de Triomphe was commissioned in 1806, but it would be another 30 years before it would be inaugurated. It was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon, after his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. 

It was designed by Jean Chalgrin, a student of the prophet of neoclassicism, Giovanni Niccolo Servandoni, hence its neoclassical style.  It took 2 years just to lay the foundation, and in 1811, Chalgrin died. During the Bourbon Restoration (1814-1830), construction was halted.  It wasn’t resumed again until King Louis-Phillip took the throne in 1833.  It was officially opened on 29 July 1836.

Victory parades have frequently marched past the arch, both those of invading powers (such as Germany, in 1871 and 1940) and of France and its allies (in 1918, 1944 upon the liberation of Paris during World War II, and 1945 after the end of the war in Europe).

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The Eiffel Tower is a distinctive and powerful symbol of the city of Paris, and an anchor for France’s history.  Locally named “La dame de fer” (the Iron Lady), it was constructed from 1887 to 1889, as the centerpiece for the 1889 World’s Fair, which celebrated the centennial of the French Revolution.  It was designed by Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, two engineers who worked for the large-scale metal building company of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (hence its name).  It was inspired by the Latting Observatory in NYC, and was the first structure in the world to surpass 200m (656 ft).

It was built at the Champ de Mars (Field of Mars) a large public greenspace, which in 1765, upon the construction of the Ecole Militaire (Military School) became the grounds for military drills.  The Champ de Mars held numerous festivals during the French Revolution, and on 14 July 1790, it held the first Federation Day celebration, or Bastille Day. And on 17 July 1791, the Champ de Mars Massacre occurred.  Soldiers of the National Guard under the Marquis de Lafayette, opened fired on crowds protesting the refusal of King Louis XVI’s abdication of the throne.  It was a major turning point in the French Revolution.  So where else to build the symbol of the French Revolution, then on this site.

Since electricity was not yet invented,  the Eiffel Tower originally stood dark, and was later lit by 100s of gas lamps, and a beacon sent out three beams of light-one red, one white and one blue.  Fun fact, in 1889, Eiffel invited Thomas Edison to his private apartment at the top of the tower. It was here that Edison presented Eiffel with one of his phonographs, a new invention of his.  It would later go on to be a distinctive sound in French music.

During the German occupation of Paris in 1940, the French cut the lift cables, to prevent anyone from reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower.  German soldiers had to climb to the top of order to hoist a Reichskriegsflagge, the official flag of the Nazi Party, the all-to-well known one, embroidered with a swastika.  When the Allied Forces were approaching Paris in August 1944, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the Eiffle Tower, along with the rest of the city. Von Choltitz disobeyed his order.  On 25 August, before the Germans were driven out of Paris, the Reichskriegsflagge was replaced with France’s iconic tricoloured flag.

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Musee du Louvre was originally built as a fortified palace in 1190-1202.  When King Phillip II left for the Third Crusade, he ordered for the construction of a defensive wall be built around Paris, opting to build the Louvre as a fortress just outside the wall’s junction with the Seine. Some of the remains were excavated in 1983-1985, on the site of the Cour Carree (lower courtyard of the Louvre) and today are conserved underground.

In the 1350s, with the onset of the Hundred Year War (1337-1453), much unrest and insecurity was spreading across Paris.  Etienne Marcel, the provost of merchants, initiated the construction of a new protective wall, one that would go beyond the previous one. When King Charles V took the throne in 1364, he continued the project, and it later became known as the Wall of Charles V.  He also began converting it from a military defense to a residence. 

By the time King Francis I ascended the throne in 1515, the French Renaissnace had arrived in France, and he became an enthusiastic patron of the art.  He ordered that the Louvre be rebuilt in Renaissnace style, and patronized many great artists of the time, including Leonardo da Vinci.  Although da Vinic painted very little during his years in Paris, he brought with him many of his greatest works, including the Mona Lisa. This would become the beginning of the Louvre’s history with art.

Under the rule of Louis XIV (1643-1715), the royal residence was moved back to Versailles, and the Louvre became a residence for artists under Royal patronage.  By the mid-1700s, there was an increasing number of proposals to create a public gallery at the Louvre, and on 14 October 1750, King Louis XV, displayed 96 pieces from the royal collection.  Under King Louis XVI, the idea of a royal museum came closer to fruition.  Proposals were made to broaden the collection, and renovate parts of the palace into a museum.  But then the French Revolution began. 

In May 1971, the National Constituent Assembly declared that the Louvre would be

"a place for bringing together monuments of all the sciences and arts"

On 10 August 1792, King Louis XVI I…yes that King Louis… was imprisoned and the royal collection in the Louvre became national property. Due to fear of vandalism or theft, on 19 August, the National Assembly pronounced the museum's preparation urgent. And in October, a committee to "preserve the national memory" began assembling the collection for display.

On 10 August 1793, the Musée du Louvre officially opened…and on the anniversary of the death of the monarchy.

Over the next 2 centuries, the Louvre would undergo numerous renovations, extensions and acquire 100,000 of pieces of art.  In 1988, the Louvre Pyramid was completed, as part of the ‘Grand Louvre project’.  It was conceived as a way to handle the growing number of visitors, but today, it is one of the most iconic symbols of the Louvre.

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Place Vendôme was built beginning in 1698, as a monument to King Louis XIV’s French Royal Army.

 The site of the square was formerly the  hôtel (grand townhouse) of Cesar de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme the illegitimate son of King Henry IV (1589-1610).  It was purchased by Hardouin-Mansart, a Baroque architect and builder, with plans of creating profits.  When the plans failed, it was purchased by King Louis XIV’s Minister of Finance, Louvois, with the intention of building a square, modelled after the successful Place des Vosges.  Louvois fell into debt, and after his death, the land was purchased by the King.  State finances were also running low at the time, and a financier, John Law, took on the project, building himself a residence.  The square was completed in 1720.

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Domaine National du Palais-Royal, originally named Palais-Cardinal, was built for Cardinal Richelieu from 1633-1639.  It has a long rich history, so buckle up!

When Richelieu died in 1642, he left the palace to King Louis XIII, but a year later the King died.  It become the residence of the Queen Mother Anne of Austria, and her young sons Louis XIV (the Sun King, who was 6 years old at the time) and Philippe duc d-Anjou (the Duke of Orleans, who was 2 years old).  It was at this time that it acquired its new name Palais-Royal.

In 1649, the palace became the residence of the wife and daughter of King Charles I of England, Henrietta Maria and Henrietta Anne Stuart.  The English Civil War was in full fledge, and they feared their safety.  They fled to France, the home country of Henrietta Maria.  She was the sister of Louis XIII, and therefore aunt of Louis XIV. 

Henrietta Anne would later go on to marry Philippe Duke of Orleans , and the Palais-Royal would be their permanent home.

          That was A LOT of family tree information, so just a little recap..and a little incest...

- King Louis VIII and Henrietta Maria were siblings

- King Louis VIII children are: King Louis XIV and Philippe Duke of Orleans 

- Henrietta Maria’s children are: Henrietta Anne Stuart and Charles II

- Henrietta Anne Stuart and Philippe Duke of Orleans, first cousins, get married...I know I know, this was very common at the time...you have to keep the blood line pure, right?

Now back to the story…

In 1701, Philippe Duke of Orleans died, and his son, Phillippe II, become the head of the House of Orléans.  Not only did he inherit the title from his father, but also the Palais-Royal.  It was used as the family home until 1715, when King Louis XIV died.    Both King Louis XIV’s son and grandson died before 1715, leaving his 5 year old great-grandson, Louis XV, the heir to the throne.  The Duke of Orléans become the Reagent, and set up France’s government at the Palais-Royal. 

When the regency ended in 1728, the social life of the palace became much more subdued. Louis XV moved the court back to Versailles and Paris was again ignored.  Over the next few decades, more and more additions were added to the palace, including two theaters, six story shopping arcades-boutiques, cafés, saloons, hair salons, bookshops, museums, and countless refreshment kiosks, and became where retail outlets sold luxury goods such as fine jewelry, furs, paintings and furniture to the wealthy elite.  The Palais-Royal became one of the first of the new style of shopping arcades and became a popular venue for the wealthy to congregate, socialise and enjoy their leisure time. The redesigned palace complex became one of the most important marketplaces in Paris. It was frequented by the aristocracy, the middle classes, and the lower orders. It had a reputation as being a site of sophisticated conversation. 

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