Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde. by Jackson Lynn. Creation. the area was originally created to compliment a large statue of king Louis XV, created by the architect Jacques Ange Gabriel. the statue was raised in 1763 to celebrate the king overcoming of an illness
Place de la Concorde
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Presentation Transcript
Place de la Concorde by Jackson Lynn
Creation • the area was originally created to compliment a large statue of king Louis XV, created by the architect Jacques Ange Gabriel. • the statue was raised in 1763 to celebrate the king overcoming of an illness • the actual place de la Concorde was created later in 1772
General Background • It had an original name of "Place Louis XV" after it was just built until the name was changed after the French Revolution. • during the revolution the statue was destroyed, and the square was renamed "Place de la Revolution." • the "famous" Guillotine stood in the square and is famous for cutting off the head of Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette.
The Executions of the Guillotine • Louis XVI was executed for unjust ruling and corruption along with his wife. • Along with him many nobles were executed after King Louis XVI • During the "reign of terror" 1,400 people were executed by it in one summer. • Apparently the smell of blood was very horrible in the square because of all the beheadings.
Rename • The guillotine was removed one year after the "Reign of Terror" and the square was renamed. • the Square was given its new name of "Place de la Concorde" in order to try to put the horrible past behind. • the word "concorde" means agreement... "Square of Agreement"
Modern Place de la Concorde • the square has a huge 3,300 year old egyptian obelisk that towers over the square. • There are also two large fountains that were designed by Jacque-Ignace Hittorff • that same architect designed the two statues at the corners of the square • the square is located in the 8th arrondissement right next to Champs-Élysées • the massive square is 86,400 sq. feet