On our second day in Paris, the girls and I knew we had to knock out as many sightseeing spots as we could before we went back to Barcelona the following day. So first stop, Arc de Triomphe!
One of the most famous monuments in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836, and is a monument to all the the fallen soldiers of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. It’s a great source of French history, and many historical figures, including Napoleon himself, have passed underneath the Arc in a show of strength and endurance. Napoleon passed through the Arc with his wife, before its construction was completed in 1810, and then passed through again, in death, as he remains were brought to their final resting place in France. The Arc has also served in times of war, and was a campsite for Prussian troops.
The subway we took let out right in front of the Arc, and it was definitely packed with people. We made our way much closer to get a better look at some of this intricate architecture and we were blown away. The statues and figures you see on the outside were massive, and each side told a story. The insides of the columns included a list of names of important French generals and soldiers who were being honored. On the ground, in the middle of the Arc, is a tribute to the fallen soldiers, with a small burning fire, flowers, and a message in French honoring the unknown soldier.
Later this day, after we had dinner in Paris and then sun had already set, we made our way over to the Notre Dame. Yes, this is the same Notre Dame that famously caught on fire in 2019, and has since been under preservation and reconstruction. We passed Notre Dame on our boat ride the night before, but we wanted a closer look. But it turned out we couldn’t get very close at all. The area around the building was closed off due to the construction, so we snapped a few pics from where we could. This famous medieval Cathedral was completed in the year 1345, and has undergone restoration efforts many times, particularly after it gained popularity from Victor Hugo’s “Notre Dame” in 1831.
I’m so glad we got to see these historical sites in our time in Paris, and I’m even more glad I took that AP European History class in high school!
Au Revoir, Paris!