1. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Place de la Concorde Paris 9 Patricia Barry © 2007

2. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Les Champs Elysées La Place de la Concorde located at the end of the Avenue des Champs Elysées It is part of the triumphal way between Le Louvre, Les Tuilleries, l’Arc de Triomphe and Versailles.

3. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Place de la Concorde Many people think that the Place de la Concorde is the most beautiful square in Paris. It was designed Jacques Ange Gabriel in 1755 for King Louis XV It is octagonal in shape

4. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Place de la Concorde The square used to be called La Place Louis XV They were going to put up a statue of Louis XV mounted on his horse, surrounded by an ocatagonal moat.

5. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Les Champs Elysées During the French Révolution the square was re-named “la Place de la Révolution” The statue of the king was replaced by the guillotine.

6. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Les Champs Elysées It is here that King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Robespierre and thousands of French people were executed during the Reign of Terror.

7. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Les Champs Elysées After the Révolution, the name “La Place de la Concorde” was chosen to symbolise the hope of a better future.

8. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Les Tuileries The square backs on to the garden of the Tuileries. The King’s statue was never replaced after the Révolution.

9. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 The Obelisk The obelisk in pink stone came from the palace of Luxor in Egypt. It was the gift of the Egyptian ruler. It is about 3 300 years old. It was placed here in 1836.

10. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 The obelisk. The obelisk dates from 1300 BC/BCE It is 23 mètres high and weighs 230 tonnes.

11. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Place de la Concorde The sea voyage from Egypt to France was very difficult. The story is recounted on the base.

12. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Place de la Concorde Here is the story in pictures.

13. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Place de la Concorde At each corner of the octogon there are statues representing the great cities of France. Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Brest and Rouen.

14. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Place de la Concorde Each statue has a beautiful fountain.

15. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 The lamp posts. Here is one of the lamp posts in blue and gold.

16. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 L’Assemblée Nationale. The National Assembly is opposite the Place de la Concorde.

17. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Grande Roue This is the Big Wheel to celebrate the Millennium. It was located in the Place de la Concorde.

18. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Seine La Place de la Concorde is near the River Seine, on the right bank This photo was taken from the left bank