Two Historic Monuments In Paris

Arc de Triomph

Names of the war heroes on the walls

Names on the sides of  walls inside

Arc de Triomph inside view

carved sculptures on pillars

sculptures

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 As we travelled on the main road, we saw a large circular square called Place de Gaulle. In the center there is a big arch called "Arc de Triomphe", an  imposing historic monument commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemmorate the heroic achievements of the French Revoultion and the Napoleonic Wars. In 1810 a wooden model was set up when Napoleon entered France after his victory in Austrian war. During his life he could not complete this project. During Bourbon Revolution this work came to a halt. During the reign of Louis-Phillippe this triumphal arch was built by the architects, Goust and Huyot between 1833 and 1836. The design for this arch was done by Jean Chalgrin based on the Roman arch of Titus. The massive stone-built arch is 164 feet in height and 148 feet width. The names of war heroes and military generals (nearly 660 in number) were inscribed on the inside surface of the walls. The names of the French victories in Napoleonic wars were inscribed on the sides of the supporting columns. The pictures depicting the events of French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars were seen   on the attic and on the facades inside the arches of the monument. Beneath the arc is seen the tomb of the unknown soldier to commemorate the war heroes of the World Wars I. The remains of the unknown soldier were buried under the vault on 10th November, 1920. This is one of the most magnificent triumphal arches with a glorious tribute to military heroes. It remained as the tallest triumphal arch in the world till the Monumento a la Revolution was built in Mexico in 1938.

 It was late in the evening. We passed through busy thoroughfares of Paris viewing huge mansions, shops and monuments. We got down at Novotel Massy Palaiseau, a hotel not far away from the city, where we stayed for two days during our sightseeing in Paris.

Les Invalides (Front View)

Les Invalides Armours Museum

Les Invalides Inside View

 On the second day of our stay in Paris we had a very busy schedule of visiting so many places that sometimes we may have a confusing and hazy picture of what we have seen. Trying to see Paris within such a short span of time is like viewing a huge mountain in a small mirror. But limits defined, we can't but oblige and try  to get the best out of the available time. As usual after having our complimentary breakfast we set out early in the morning on the main road. Our tour manager made a brief halt and showed us a semi-circular building complex with a magnificent dome with a church seen just behind. He said that it was the hospital and shelter for the old and disabled war veterans. Within its premises there is a building complex with later extensions to house many museums. This building complex is called "Les Invalides" commissioned by the French king Louis XIV on 24th November, 1670 with the intention of providing medical help and shelter to four thousand war veterans.The famous architect Liberal Bruant undertook this work and completed it in 1676. To meet the religious and spiritual needs of these people, as ordered by the king, Jules Hardouin Mansart, with the help of Liberal Bruant, constructed St.Louis Chapel (also called Soldiers' Church) in  1679. For his own private purpose Louis XIV commissioned J.H.Mansart to construct a private royal chapel in 1679. This chapel is called "Eglise du Dome" constructed in ornate French Baroque style, taking inspiration from St.Peter's Basilica in Rome.This royal chapel constructed in 1708 attracts our attention by its ribbed and hemi-spherical 351 feet-high dome. This church is called "Dome Church".

Soldiers' ChurchInside View 

Soldier's Church

Dome Church

Inside View

Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte

Tomb of French Marshal General Turenne

Tomb of French Marshal Ferdinand Foch

 In this vast building complex there are nearly 15 courtyards spreading over a vast area. In 1872 an artillery museum was set up with a rare collection of various weapons and military uniforms. In 1896 a historical museum of army forces was founded. In 1905 both these museums were merged together and called as Museum of Arms or Musee de L'armee. In this museum one can see various kinds of weapons, uniforms,maps and banners of various countries right from early Middle Ages to World War II. The Musee des Plans Reliefs (briefly called Relief Maps Museum) displays detailed models of French fortresses and fortified cities dating back to seventeenth century. The Musee de L'Ordre de la Liberation depicts the liberation of France in the second World War under the able leadership of General Charles de Gaulle.

  This hospital meant for aged and crippled soldiers inspired William III, King of England, to set up a military hospital in Greenwich in 1694. The Dome Church has also become a consecrated place by the fact that due honor was given to the great French military leaders like Sebastian Vaubhan (Marshal of King Louis XIV's army),  Ferdinand Foch (Commander of the Allied Forces during World War I) and Turenne (Marshal General of French army). Napoleon's mortal remains were brought from St.Helena in 1840 to this place and later entombed in the crypt in 1861. The graves of his brothers (Joseph and Jerome) and his son (Napoleon II) are also seen in this royal chapel.

Tomb of Napoleon  II

Tomb of Sebastian Vauban

 Thus Les de Invalides epitomizes the military achievements and the historic glory of French war heroes and military leaders. Napoleon during his regime tried to pay due tribute and homage to war veterans by constructing a memorial to Vaubhan in 1808 and by setting up a bronze tomb for Ferdinand Foch and a decent monument for  Turenne in 1800. But we were not able to see in detail due to our rigid time schedule. We have to content ourselves just by having a fleeting glance at these noble monuments.

  7th April, 2016                                                                            Somaseshu Gutala