Photo of the Week – August 24, 2012

Here is a night shot I took at the fountains at Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris. Originally named Place Louis XV, it was renamed Place de la Revolution during the French Revolution when a guillotine was erected in the square. It was here that Louis XVI was executed as well as Marie Antoinette and many others. To the west of the place is the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, to the east the Tuileries Garden. The National Assembly sits across the bridge on the opposite bank of the Seine. At the eight angles of the octagonal place are eight statues, each representing a major French city (Rouen, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille to name a few). The Luxor Obelisk, lit up a bright white in this photo, came from Egypt in the 19th century. It’s over 75 feet high and weighs 250 metric tons. The original cap was believed to have been stolen in the 6th century BC, and France added the gold leafed cap to the obelisk in 1998. photo © Rachael Woodson   Subscribe for FREE weekly newsletters. BonjourParis has been a leading France travel and French lifestyle site since 1995.     Readers’ Favorites: Top 100 Books, imports & more at our Amazon store We update our daily selections, including the newest available with an Amazon.com pre-release discount of 30% or more. Find them by starting here at the back of the Travel section, then work backwards page by page in sections that interest you. Current favorites, including bestselling Roger&Gallet unisex fragrance Extra Vieielle Jean-Marie Farina….please click on an image for details.               Click on this banner to link to Amazon.com & your purchases support our site….merci! <br>