Page 163 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

P ARIS  161

with lime and chestnut trees and r Place de la
modern sculptures. Also in the Concorde
gardens, two royal tennis courts
built in 1851 and known as the q Concorde.
Jeu de Paume – literally “game
of the palm” – now host One of Europe’s most
exhibitions of contemporary art. magnificent and historic
squares, covering more than
e Musée de 8 ha (20 acres), the Place de la
l’Orangerie Concorde was a swamp until
the mid­18th century. It
Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la became Place Louis XV in
Concorde. Tel 01­44 77 80 07. 1763, when royal architect
q Concorde. @ 24, 42, 52, 72, 73, Jacques­Ange Gabriel was
84, 94. Open 9am–6pm Wed–Mon. asked by the king to design
Closed May 1, Dec 25. & 8 = 7 a suitable setting for an
∑ musee-orangerie.fr equestrian statue of himself.
Neoclassical statues and urns in the He created an open octagon,
Jardin des Tuileries The museum first opened to with only the north side
the public in 1927 with an containing mansions.
w Jardin des Tuileries exhibition of Claude Monet’s The statue, which lasted
crowning work, his celebrated here less than 20 years,
q Tuileries, Concorde. Open Apr,
May, Jun, Aug, Sep: 7am–9pm daily; water­lily series – known as the was replaced by the
Jul: 7am–11pm; Oct–Mar: Nymphéas, and they still take guillotine (the Black
7:30am–7pm daily. pride of place here. Most of the Widow, as it came to
canvases were painted between be known), and the
These gardens once belonged 1899 and 1921 in the garden at square was renamed
to the Palais des Tuileries, a Giverny, Normandy, where Place de la Révolution.
palace which was razed to the Monet lived from 1883 until On January 21, 1793,
ground during the time of the his death at the age of 86. Louis XVI was beheaded
Paris Commune in 1871. This superb work is here, followed by more
The gardens were laid out in complemented by the Walter­ than 1,300 other
the 17th century by André Le Guillaume collection of artists of victims, including Marie
Nôtre, royal gardener to Louis the Ecole de Paris, from the late Antoinette, Madame du
XIV. He created a Neoclassical Impressionist era to the inter­ Barry, Charlotte Corday
garden with a broad central war period. Among a number of (Marat’s assassin), and
avenue, regularly spaced terraces, paintings by Cézanne are still revolutionary leaders
and topiary arranged in geo­ lifes, portraits such as Madame Danton and
metric designs. A project which Cézanne, and landscapes. The Robespierre. The
started in 1998 created a garden collection also features The Red blood­soaked square
Rock. There are 24 was optimistically
canvases by Renoir, renamed Place de
one the most la Concorde after
notable of which is the Reign of Terror
Les Jeunes Filles au finally came to an
Piano. Picasso is end in 1794.
represented by early The grandeur
works, such as The of the square was Obelisk in Place de
Female Bathers. Henri enhanced a few la Concorde
Rousseau has nine decades later when
paintings, including the 3,200­year­old Luxor obelisk
The Wedding and Le was presented to King Louis­
Carriole du Père Junier. Philippe as a gift from the
Among outstanding viceroy of Egypt (who also
portraits is that of by donated Cleopatra’s Needle in
Modigliano. Works London). Two fountains and
by Sisley, Derain, eight statues personifying
and Utrillo are also French cities were also installed.
featured. All the Flanking the Rue Royale on
works are bathed the north side of the square are
in the natural light two of Gabriel’s Neoclassical
that filters through mansions, the Hôtel de la
Entrance to the great collection of Impressionist and other the windows of Marine and the exclusive
paintings at the Musée de l’Orangerie the museum. Hôtel Crillon.

160-161_EW_Europe.indd 161 14/07/16 10:14 am