FRANCE: OTT Extravagance in Paris

Paris has an abundance of displays of opulence and indulgence.

Since it is so hard to decide on a “favourite”, I am going to talk about 3 places in Paris that stand out for me as OTT (Over the Top) in extravagance.

I am going to start with Palais Garnier, also known as the Opéra Garnier.

One way to describe the Palais Garnier is as “eclectic opulence”.

There is a combination of Baroque, Classical, and Renaissance elements. 

The mix can be summed up as Beaux-Arts.

NOTE: If you can view this post on a big screen, in my humble opinion, you should do so. There are lots of beautiful and intricate details that show up much better on a big screen.

FRANCE: The Palace of Versailles

One of our first outings when we got to Paris was to Versailles to see the infamous Palace.

The Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) is one of the most famous and opulent royal residences in the world.

Located in Versailles, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Paris, we went by train.

The palace began as a modest hunting lodge for King Louis XIII.

It was later transformed by his son, the legendary Louis XIV, into a symbol of absolute monarchy and the center of French political power in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Versailles hosts millions of visitors each year.

FRANCE: Canadians on Juno Beach

Juno Beach is a beautiful peaceful sandy beach in Normandy on the NW coast of France.

But it wasn’t always this peaceful.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Juno Beach is significant in Canadian history.

It is one of the five main landing beaches of the D-Day invasion during World War II.

On June 6, 1944, Juno Beach was assigned to the Canadian forces in the Allied operation known as Operation Overlord.

FRANCE: The River Seine in Paris

We are slowing things down a bit and are in Paris for 2 months. 

We “live” a couple blocks from the Seine River and feel like locals.

The Seine is a major waterway in northern France, flowing 777 kilometers (about 483 miles) from the Burgundy region to the English Channel.

The Seine winds through the heart of Paris dividing the city into the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) and Right Bank (Rive Droite) passing by famous landmarks—like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Musée d'Orsay.

FRANCE: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Construction of Notre Dame began in 1163 and it took nearly 200 years to complete, finishing around 1345.

It has been the religious center of Paris and the site of major events like royal weddings, coronations and national funerals.

Not too long ago, on April 15, 2019, a devastating fire destroyed the spire and much of the roof. 

Sympathies and donations poured in from around the world.  

Reconstruction began shortly after. 

The ground floor of Notre Dame re-opened recently and they distribute tickets on-line over a rolling 3 day window. 

With perseverance I was able to book us tickets to get inside.

FRANCE: The Louvre

The Louvre is another Parisian icon. 

It is the world’s largest art museum and also a historic monument that attracts millions of visitors each year. 

The Louvre covers over 72,000 square meters (775,000 sq ft for those not metrically inclined) of exhibition space. 

There are over 480,000 works of art. 

The Louvre’s collection includes paintings, sculptures, artifacts and antiquities from prehistory to the 21st century. 

FRANCE: Iconic Symbol of Paris

 

When I think of Paris there are iconic landmarks that come to mind.

Probably the first one that I think of is the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. 

It was also to show off the design, engineering, scientific, technical, innovative and cultural expertise of France.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited paid monuments in the world with about 7 million visitors per year.