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Wrapping the Arc de Triomphe
Some dreams become reality. Fabric is covering the Arc de Triomphe sixty years after Christo and Jeanne-Claude envisioned the project L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped. “L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped” is entirely funded by the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff through the sale of Christo’s works of art. It receives no public funds”. In mid-August steel protective framing covered the arch. On Sunday, September 12, 25,000 square meters of fabric began its descent. By September 18, 3,000 meters of red cord will complete the package. This gift to Paris will stay wrapped until October 3. The noisy roundabout will fall silent for the three weekends between September 18 and October 3. Only those…
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Notre-Dame de Paris: Oaks and Stone – the Latest News
The day after the fire, President Emmanuel Macron said that Notre-Dame de Paris would be repaired by 2024. That was the easy part. Where do you find trees at least 100-years old to replace Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's spire? Where do you find the stones to replace those from 760 year ago that were damaged by water and fire? Finding trees and stone is the easy part. The race against time is the hard part. The President and the committee in charge of the reconstruction have decided to restore the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral to its 1865 renovation. The oak trees for the spire (flêche) are located west of Paris in the…
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One Year Ago-One Month Ago in Paris Notre-Dame’s Fire
One year ago, April 15, the steeple of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc burned and crashed through the roof of Notre-Dame de Paris: architectural flaw? One month ago, March 15, the sun was shining; everyone ignored a lockdown, went to the "beach" and socialised. An invisible agent locked down work on Notre Dame and confined us to one meter apart. One month from now, work on the new scaffolding holding the burnt scaffolding may continue and we may be less confined. In the meantime, the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and garbage trucks still pass through my Paris street on time.
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Madame Eiffel Tower Celebrates 130 Years
In May 2019, the Eiffel Tower turned 130; however, why not celebrate the birthday all year long. To celebrate this event, an interactive Fall Event is underway at the Eiffel Tower until the end of November on the esplanade, under a dome covering about 300 m2, is free and open to everyone. Visitors walk over screens on the ground that reproduce the image of the girders .... which feels likes walking over nothing, experience the monument’s wind resistance and become painters of the Eiffel Tower
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Eiffel Tower-One Big Green Space and Garden
Eiffel Tower, Quai Branley, Iena Bridge, Trocadero, Place Varsovie, Ecole militaries will be joined by one big green space and pedestrian zone between 2021-2024. Around 2024 the area of the Eiffel Tower, including Trocadéro and l’Ecole militaire will add clean air to your lungs according to the Paris Mayor’s office. The area around the Eiffel Tower is going green. Vehicles of any kind will no longer circulate around either the Tower or across the Iena bridge. From the Place Varsovie on the right bank across from Chatillot to the left bank’s Quai Branly, all will be classified for pedestrians only. Work begins 2021 and continues until 2024.
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Paris Scenes: Balcony, Street & Snow
These are scenes from a Montmartre balcony over Paris while at a party, walking to the metro near Ledru-Rollin/Bastille to attend a conference, snow scenes along streets in the 11th arrondissement heading to the suburb of Bagnolet for a presentation rehearsal between January 26 and February 7.
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How to Visit the Tour Saint-Jacques – Châtelet
If you want to begin your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, begin at the Tour Saint-Jacques in Paris/Châtelet. Or skip the pilgrimage and reserve on line for the panoramic view from the top of the tower. Reservations open on line every Monday morning for one of seventeen available spots.
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Experience Versailles in 3D from Home
While preparing a visit to Versailles, I ended up helping build Versailles. The building task involves matching three levels of architecture to please Mr. Mansard and the King. Playing the game, I heard myself giggling out loud (as did the rest of the household). Once completed, I earned a medal and the approval of the Louis XIV. “Shambles at Versailles” is one of the new interactive games to help Jules Hardouin-Mansard (architecture), Jean-Baptiste Colbert (menagerie) and André le Nôtre (gardens) finish building Versailles. And by the way, did Versailles always look this way, gigantic and full of gardens? Surely, there must have been something on the grounds before: A forest? a house? a…
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Revival of the Grand Palais
The falling rivet that saved the Grand Palais Watch out! A falling rivet in 1993 was the wake up call that things were not exactly right within and beneath the Grand Palais. What happened during the past 12 years while the Grand Palais was closed to the public and why for the next year it will be shrouded and framed by scaffolding is a continuing story. But there is hope because it is no longer sliding into the banks of the Seine river. Panel translations inside the Grand Palais When you enter this edifice during the coming two years for varied events you will most likely see several panels (in French)…
