Established by Napoleon.
At the Rue de Constantine.
Crossing Pont Alexandre.
This is the square where Louis XVI lost his head. The obelisk was stolen from the Egyptians.
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The ornate front archway of Notre Dame cathedral.
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The famous stained glass of Notre Dame.
The altar of Notre Dame.
St Denis is the figure with his head in his hands. The legend has it that when St Denis was beheaded by the Romans, he picked up his head, washed it, and then carried it for 5 km before he dropped dead. Eyewitness reports are sketchy.
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Although it looks more like a Greek temple. Napoleon had a classical bent.
The Paris Opera House. Note the gold edging.
Eastern end, by the gardens.
Heading west. You can just make out the Arc de Triomphe at the end.
Still heading west. Getting into shopping district now.
Western end. Full on shopping district to the right.
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Unfortunately the Arc was under renovation, so we couldn't go inside.
Due to the works, I couldn't get around to the front to get a picture. The incription reads, "Ici repose un soldat mort pour la patrie."
In all its glory, except for the scaffolding.
Back we go towards Avenue Winston Churchill.
Looking south towards Hotel des Invalides.
Statue of Winston Churchill. I like it better than the one outside the Houses of Parliament in London. The French has a lot of statues of non-French figures, among them Churchill and George Washington.
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I think this is the Italian Opera House. Strangely with a poster of Marlene Dietrich.
End of tour, and we're back at the starting point.
Looking southeast along the Champs De Mars to the Ecole Militaire.
