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Paris Looking Down: A View from the Eiffel

 

When the Eiffel Tower was built, as the centerpiece of Paris’ 1889 Universal Exposition, not everyone loved it. The writer Guy de Maupassant mocked it as a "high and skinny pyramid of iron ladders," and novelist Leon Bloy called it a "truly tragic street lamp." De Maupassant’s hatred went so far that he was reputed to eat at the tower daily as the one spot in Paris where it wouldn’t ruin his view!

River and a sea of stoneWhether or not you think it’s a great sight to see, there’s no denying it’s a great place to see from! All of Paris lies at your feet, with views you can’t get anywhere else. Soaring over Disney World on a tram only shows you how unreal that world is; “flying” over Paris lets you see the beauty of the city, and its plan, in a whole different way.

Alma-Invalides-AlexIII-ConcordeThese pictures were taken on a late February afternoon, ending when the light was gone. I hope you’ll enjoy them, and the few extras in the slideshow!

Grand et Petit Palais

Grand Palais and Petit Palais, museums today, but built for another World Fair

Some of the famous sights lie right at your feet, like the Ecole Militaire at the end of the Champs des Mars in one direction, and the Palais de Chaillot and the Trocadero Gardens in the other.

C de Mars-Ecole Militaire

Palais de Chaillot

But other landmarks are farther away. Playing with telephoto gives you different views...and sometimes a very fore-shortened view of everything in between. For instance, these three different shots of the Arc de Triomphe.

Arc & EtoileMidrange

Close-up

And these differing views of the Hotel des Invalides, where Napoleon's tomb is located. In the first it appear to the left of the Ecole Militaire, with the Montparnasse Tower in the far distance; then a shot focused on it, and finally a close-up of the dome.

Inval-Ecole Mil-Tour MtPInvalides

Dome of Invalides

The river and its bridges also play a big part in the view. This shot shows the Musee du Quai Branly, then still under construction, the Pont de l'Alma and the Passerelle Debilly.

Branly-Alma-Debilly

Now we're looking further up the river, with the Pont de l'Alma in the foreground, then the Pont Alexandre III and Pont and Place de la Concorde, with the Grand Palais and Petit Palais at the left.

Pl Concorde & Petit & Grand Palais

The Seine is also a working river, carrying not just tourist boats and pleasure craft; it's also still a carrier of crops and construction material and more. The working docks are no longer in central Paris, but the boats pass through. Here's one below:

Still a working river

Dusk, Ile des Cygnes

Toward the west, the Ile des Cygnesmarks a sort of dividing line between older Paris to the East and more recent development to the west. Not too specific, but the feel is clear.

West toward postwar Paris

Further north, above Montmartre, the Sacre Coeur Basilica, so far away, and suddenly so near.

Toward Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur

But eventually, the light was gone, and it was time to leave the Tower...

Sunset

Attachments

Images (24)
  • Alma-Invalides-AlexIII-Concorde
  • Arc & Etoile
  • Branly - l'Alma
  • Branly-Alma-Debilly
  • C de Mars-Ecole Militaire
  • Close-up
  • Dome of Invalides
  • Dusk, Ile des Cygnes
  • Evening
  • Grand et Petit Palais
  • Inval-Ecole Mil-Tour MtP
  • Invalides
  • Looking down
  • Midrange
  • Palais de Chaillot
  • Pl Concorde & Petit & Grand Palais
  • River and a sea of stone
  • Sacre Coeur dusk
  • Sacre Coeur
  • Still a working river
  • Sunset
  • The light begins to fade
  • Toward Sacre Coeur
  • West toward postwar Paris

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

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Comments (3)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

Great pics. We were there this past August and were very impressed with the Eiffel Tower. It was truly fantastic accomplishment and the views are spectacular. 

 

The day we were there we had pre-purchased our tickets online, but did not use them. The morning of our scheduled day it was pouring down rain and we were tired, so we stayed in bed. Later in the morning the skies cleared and we went over to the tower. Since we missed our time we had to purchase another two tickets. it was still worth the cost to go up in the tower to experience its grandeur.

 

The Arc de Triomphe was another sight we enjoyed climbing around. The views from the top were also panoramic in terms of looking at the entire city.

 

Even though these two sights are very touristy, we liked them both as well as the temperature. We had been in Italy for several weeks and the cooler climate was very comfortable.

 

Buon viaggio,

Last edited by rbciao

Thanks, Pheymont.  Even we who imagine we know the city have gotten a whole new perspective.  Point of view is everything!  And, having been up the tower once long ago, I'm again struck by how much higher it seems looking down than it appears from the below or from a distance.

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