Sunday 27 August 2017

Sunday Snap – The arch in the star

We were in Herne Bay for last week's Sunday Snap of the aviatrix. I asked who the record breaking female pilot was and the answer is

Amy Johnston

Flying along with the right answer were Susan, Sarah, Anne and Kara.

We're going back to Paris for this week's Sunday Snap. At the end of the Champs-Élysées is this magnificent arch and another of one of the city's most week known monuments. It stands in the centre of the Place de Charles de Gaulle but previously it was called the Place de l'Étoile. The étoile translates to star and off this busy and chaotic roundabout are 12 avenues.

The arch was originally commissioned by Emperor Napoleon after his victory at Austerlitz in 1806. However after this Napoleon's own fortunes took and nosedive the construction of the arch followed suit. The foundations took two years to lay and Napoleon had to have a temporary wooden arch erected when he came through Paris in 1810 with his new bride, Marie-Louise. The main architect died in 1811 and after Napoleon was first exiled in 1814 construction of it was halted. He never saw it completed as he died in exile on the island of Saint Helena in 1821. When his body was returned to France in 1840 the state funeral procession started at his arch. Work began again in 1833 and it was finally opened in 1836.

The arch is decorated with sculptured friezes of French soldiers and their various victories in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. On Armistice Day in 1920 the tomb of the Unknown Solider was interred. beneath the arch. Three years later an eternal flame was lit by the tomb and it has come to represent the memory of all those who died in both world wars but their bodies have never been identified. This week's question is

What is the name of the arch?


We were joined last week by Susan and a very first day at school. Anne had an impromptu day out. In Turkey Cheryl has been capturing the reflections at Twilight. Meanwhile, in Florida Kara has been to Walt Disney World and has been spotted on Main Street and playing as Princess Elena.

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Sunday Snap

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6 comments:

  1. I've not seen it, but I'm sure it's the Arc de Triomphe. Hope you're well x

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  2. L'Arc de Triomphe! Terrifying place to drive round, even as a passenger.

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  3. It's the Arc de Triomphe. I've not seen but it is iconic.

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  4. Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile

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  5. L'Arc de Triomphe, although I have to admit that before you said it was in Paris, I wasn't sure if it was that or Marble Arch !

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  6. Arc de Triomphe. I would love to see it one day.

    -Soma

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