Works Cited

Works Cited

La Tour Eiffel

• http://www.history.com/topics/eiffel-tower
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/eiffeltower.htm

La Cathedrale Notre Dame

• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/notredame.htm
• http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/paris-notre-dame-cathedral
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_Paris

L'Arc de Triomphe

• http://www.arcdetriompheparis.com/blog/69-more-about-the-arc-de-triomphe-paris
• http://www.arcdetriompheparis.com
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe
• http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/arctriomphe/arc.html

Le Musee du Louvre

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre
• http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Museums-Paris/Louvre.shtml
• http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71065/Musée-du-Louvre

Le Centre Pompidou

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_Georges_Pompidou
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/centrepompidou.htm
• http://www.rsh-p.com/work/buildings/centre_pompidou

L'Opera Garnier

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Garnier
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/operagarnier.htm
• http://www.randomactsofkelliness.com/2014/07/5-incredible-facts-paris-opera-house.html
• http://entertainmentguide.local.com/fun-garnier-opera-house-3057.html

La Conciergerie

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conciergerie
• http://www.parisdigest.com/monument/laconciergerie.htm
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/conciergerie.htm

La Grande Arche

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Arche
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/archedeladefense.htm
• http://famouswonders.com/grande-arche-de-la-defense/

La Basilique du Sacre Coeur

• http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/paris-sacre-coeur
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/sacrecoeur.htm
• http://traveltips.usatoday.com/10-fun-sacrecoeur-paris-106883.html

Les Invalides

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Invalides
• http://www.worldsiteguides.com/europe/france/paris/les-invalides/
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/invalides.htm

Le Palais de Versailles

• http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles
• http://paris.arounder.com/en/historic-building/chateau-de-versailles
• http://www.linkparis.com/versailles.htm

Le Musee d'Orsay

• http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/history-of-the-museum/home.html
• http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/garedorsay.htm
• http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/The-Delightful-dOrsay-Museum-236108.html
• http://famouswonders.com/museum-dorsay/

My Opinion?

My Opinion?

Reflecting on the areas I've researched, I've come to the conclusion that the sites that I would definitely like to see are the Palais de Versailles and the L'Opera Garnier. I believe that the reason why the Palais de Versailles interests me is because of the video game Assassin's Creed. After witnessing and exploring how it looks virtually, the site sparks my interests of how it would look in reality. 

Assassin's Creed

Le Palais de Versailles

The second site that interests me is the L'Opera Garnier. After watching the movie The Phantom of the Opera, I'm curious to actually explore the setting and to understand the atmosphere the characters lived in. Also, I would love to see the famous chandelier (that was often referred to in the movie) or to maybe sit down and witness a play!

L'Opera Garnier auditorium

Le Musee d'Orsay

Le Musee d'Orsay

This is the Musee d'Orsay, a well-known museum located at a grand railway station in Paris. The museum is famous for housing many paintings such as Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhone and Claude Monet's Blue Water Lilies. The construction of the Musee d'Orsay originally began in the early 1900s as it was used a train station. However, after the station's abandonment, President Giscard d'Estaing decided to turn it into a museum in 1978. With the works of architects, Gae Aulenti, Victor Laloux, and Emile Bernard, the project was a success. The building was restored in 1979 and officially opened on November 29th, 1986. The Musee d'Orsay measures 35 feet in height, and holds a collection of 2,300 paintings of various different art forms, such as cubism and impressionism. The purpose of the project was to originally attract visitors to the 1900s World's Fair, however, once it became a museum, the purpose shifted into representing modern art. 

Unusual Facts: 

1. Some famous artists connected to the museum are Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pierre-Auguste

   

   Pierre-Auguste Renoir

   Renoir. 
2. In the year 2013, the museum had over 3,467,320 visitors.
3. The Musee d'Orsay is ranked as the 10th most globally visited museum. 

   

   Claude Monet

   

   Vincent Van Gogh

Le Palais de Versailles

Le Palais de Versailles

Famous for symbolizing wealth and monarchy, Le Palais de Versailles, or the Palace of Versailles, is a royal manor located in Paris. The construction of the palace began in 1624, as it was used as a hunting lodge, built by King Louis XIII. However the building was expanded in 1669 by King Louis XIV and became a manor for kings until the year 1790. Ordered by King Louis XIV, each architect was in charge of designing a section. Designer of the Les Invalides, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, was in   charge of initiating the designs of the Grand Trianon. Louis Le Vau, the greatest architect of Louis XIV, developed the apartments for the kings and queens. The last architect was Andre Le Notre,  whom was in charge of designing the gardens of the palace. The purpose of the palace was to symbolize absolute monarchy, as well as political power during the French regime. With a floor area of 721,182 ft, the estate is separated into four sections; the Garden, the Grand Trianon, Marie Antoinette's estate, and the Palace itself.

Hall of Mirrors

Unusual Facts:

1. One of the most famous rooms in the palace is the Galerie des Glaces, or the Hall of Mirrors. This room is well-known due to the numerous ceremonies held during the French regime. 
2. The Le Palais de Versailles is also seen in pop culture. One notable feature is in two video games called Assassin's Creed Unity and Assassin's Creed Rogue. 



Le Palais de Versailles, in Assassin's Creed

3. The Chapel, a section of the palace, took a total of 28 years to build, due to King Louis XIV's desire of perfection and design within the room. 

   

   The Chapel

Les Invalides

Les Invalides

Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne

This is the Les Invalides, a building complex that contains museums, monuments and a hospital. The building is also well-known for its military purposes, as it is a burial site for French soldiers. The construction of the Les Invalides started in 1671 and was completed in 1678 by architects, Liberal Bruant and Jules Hardouin Mansart. Since it is mainly a hospital, the main purpose of the building was to house wounded soldiers during the 1600s. Due to the Les Invalides being a complex, the building contains a museum called the Musee de l'Armee, which contains many forms of art, such as expressionism, surrealism, and futurism. In fact, a famous painting housed at the museum is the Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne, which was painted by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. 

Unusual Facts:

1. Although not much is known about the Les Invalides measurements, the building's dome measures 107 m (351 ft) in height. 
2. The Les Invalides contains three museums in total: the Musee de l'Armee, Musee de l'Ordre de la Liberation, and the Musee des Plans-Reliefs.
3. Napoleon Bonaparte, one of French's famous war heroes, is buried at the Les Invalides, as well as some of his other family members. 

   

   Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb at the Les Invalides

La Basilique du Sacre Coeur

La Basilique du Sacre Coeur

Also known as a Roman Catholic Church, La Basilique du Sacre Coeur, is a famous landmark in Paris. It is located at the highest point in the city of Montmartre, and has a measurement of 273' (83 m) in height. The Basilique du Sacre Coeur was built by architect, Paul Abadie, as the construction began in 1876. However, after Abadie's death, he was later succeeded by another architect named Lucien Magne. The purpose of the Sacre Coeur was to serve as a symbol of hope and confidence after the French defeat during the Prussian War. 

Unusual Facts:

1. The Basilique du Sacre Coeur is higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower, due to its location on the Montmartre hill.
2. The church contains the Savoyarde, which was built by architect Lucien Magne. The Savoyarde is measured to be one of the world's heaviest bells, weighing nineteen tons. 



Savoyarde Clock Tower, which contains the bell.

3. Another reason as to why the church was built was to create a basilica, similar to Christian traditions. 

La Grande Arche

La Grande Arche

Known as as a modern monument, the Grande Arche, is located at the heart of the La Defense, a business district in Paris. The construction of the monument began in 1985 and was built by architect, Johann Otto Von Spreckelsen. However, the purpose of the Grande Arche was to become a centerpiece for the La Defense, due to the lack of culture and attraction in the area. The arc was completed in 1989 and has a measurement of 110 m (361 ft) in height. Due to its location in a business district, the monument has thirty-five floors, which are used as conference rooms and office space. 

Unusual Facts:

1. The Grande Arche is apart of the "Grand Projects", a construction created by former president Francois Mitterrand. The purpose of the "Grand Projects" was to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution and to promote culture.
2. The archway of the monument is large enough to fit the Notre Dame under it. 
3. The La Grande Arche had four courtyards that used to be open to the public, however, these areas are permanently closed due to elevator problems. 

La Conciergerie

La Conciergerie

This is the La Conciergerie, a former prison in Paris. The building was built by Philipe the Fair (during the Middle Ages) and was originally used as a palace for kings, until it was moved to the Louvre. It officially became a prison in 1391 for common criminals. During the French Revolution, the purpose of the Conciergerie was to serve as a prison for those whom were to be executed by the guillotine. Over 3,000 people have been executed at the Conciergerie, and amongst those prisoners was Marie-Antoinette, the wife of Louis XVI. However, the building was decommissioned as a prison in 1914, and now remains as a historic monument.

Unusual Facts:

1. The Conciergerie is located on the Il de la Cite.
2. During the Middle Ages, prisoners who were wealthy were given the best cells, while those who were in poverty slept in unsanitary rooms. 
3. Although the building is open to the public, majority of the prison is limited to tourist attraction.

L'Opera Garnier

L'Opera Garnier

This is the L'Opera Garnier, a famous opera house located in Paris. It's construction began in 1861 by the architect, Charles Garnier, under the request of Napoleon III. However, the construction wasn't completed until 1875, due to the discovery of an underground lake. The building is known as one of the largest theaters with a seating capacity of 2,200. The theatre measures 184' (56 m) in height and 125 meters in width. The purpose of the L'Opera Garnier was to showcase many performances such as ballet and operas. 

Unusual Facts:

1. The famous love-story, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, was inspired by the interior design of the L'Opera Garnier. 
2. The Grand Staircase is known as the L'Opera Garnier's most famous interior design. 
3. Another luxurious design of the L'Opera Garnier is the auditorium which contains its expanse seating area and chandelier. 

   

   Grand Staircase

   

   Auditorium

Le Centre Pompidou

Le Centre Pompidou

This is the Le Centre Pompidou, a famous complex located in the Beaubourg area. Not only is it used as a museum, but it also has a library, movie theatre and a book store. The complex was built in 1971 by architects, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, and was completed in 1977. The purpose of the Le Centre Pompidou was to serve as a cultural center, with its postmodern and high-tech design. The complex measures 149' (46 m) in height with five floors. The first three floors are used as libraries, while the fourth and fifth contain many collections of art such as surrealism and cubism. 

Unusual Facts: 

Georges Pompidou

1. The complex was named after the French President, Georges Pompidou.
2. The Le Centre Pompidou has 65,000 pieces of art and represents over 100 countries.
3. Many people believe that the complex is a bit controversial, as most of the electrical wires and circulation are located outside of the building. 

Le Musee du Louvre

Le Musee du Louvre

This is the Le Musee du Louvre; which is one of the largest palaces in the world, as it was home to former kings of France. However, the establishment is also a national art museum in France. It is famous for its collection of ancient and western art, housing royal paintings and sculptures. The museum was originally used as a fortress during the middle ages, until it was reconstructed to serve as a palace for kings in the 16th century. It wasn't until 1793, when the Louvre became an art museum after King Louis XIV moved the residence to Versailles. In front of the museum, is the Louvre Pyramid, which serves as the main entrance to the establishment. It was completed in 1989 and designed by I.M. Pei, with a height of 22 meters (72 ft) and a base of 35 meters (116 ft). The museum houses over 70,000 pieces of art and includes collections such as Egyptian antiques and Greek sculptures. 

Unusual Facts:

1. One of the most famous works in the museum is the Mona Lisa, which was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. 
   
   2. It takes 2,000 employees to keep the museum in order. 
   3.  The Louvre was a symbol of wealth and power during the French monarchy.

L'Arc de Triomphe

L'Arc de Triomphe

This is the L'Arc de Triomphe, one of Paris's most famous monuments. The construction was ordered  in 1806 by the French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, when he commanded architect, Jean Chalgrin to build an arch to represent French glory. Its construction started in 1806, but wasn't completed until 1863, due to the monument being restarted in 1825. It has a height of 50 m (164 ft) and is 45 m (148 ft) wide. The purpose of the L'Arc de Triomphe was to celebrate Napoleon's victory and to honor those who fought for France. 

Unusual Facts:

1. Although Napoleon ordered the construction, he never got a chance to witness its completion, as it was finished 15 years after his death. 
2. During World War I, an unknown soldier was buried at the base of the L'Arc de Triomphe. 
3. Before Napoleon ordered its completion, the monument was originally supposed to be a giant elephant, which would have looked like this:
   

La Cathédrale Notre Dame

La Cathédrale Notre Dame

This is the La Cathedrale Notre Dame, known as the "cradle of Paris" for its religious purposes. Its construction started in 1163 and was completed in 1345, by Bishop Maurice de Sully. The Cathedral is known for its gothic-like features (such as gargoyles and chimeras), which were used to represent Paris as the capital of France. The purpose of the Cathedral was to rebuild a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary; which was Maurice de Sully's focal point. The church has a height of 315' (96 m), complete with two towers that measure 69 meters (226 ft). Throughout its time, the Cathedral has been restored many times due to damages after the French Revolution. However, it was later restored in the nineteenth century, and carefully preserved in-between the years of 1991 and 2001.

Unusual Facts:

1. The Cathedral is often referred to as the "Notre Dame de Paris", which is translated into "Our Lady of Paris" in French.
2. After Victor Hugo's novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" the Cathedral went through intense restoration.
3. La Cathédrale Notre Dame is located on the Ile de la Cite, which is the very heart of Paris. 

La Tour Eiffel

La Tour Eiffel

This is the Eiffel Tower, Paris's most famous landmark in France. It was constructed on January 28th, 1887 and completed in March 15th, 1889, taking a total of two years. It was built by the architect, Stephen Sauvestre, and designed by Gustave Eiffel, a civil engineer (in which the tower was later named after himself). The purpose of the Eiffel Tower was to mark the 100th year of the World's Fair in Paris, which was held in 1889. The tower is a grand structure with a height of 986' (301 m) and is complete with three floors and nine elevators. The roof has 300.65 m (986 ft.), while the top floor has a height of 273.00 m (896 ft). 

Unusual Facts:

1. The Eiffel Tower was originally supposed to be destroyed in 1909, but was saved because it was used as a giant radio antenna.
2. The structure was intended for Barcelona, Spain, but the project was rejected. 
3. There are 1,665 steps needed to climb all the way to the top of the tower.
4. The only well-known famous person connected to the tower is Gustave Eiffel.