France, Paris XXI: The Eiffel Tower and Around III

A field where history was made ...

During our pleasant walk in the park known by locals as Champ-de-Mars we encountered a peculiar building expressing the will for peace. On the opposite side, another, historical, building of the École Militaire, a military academy, stood. We didn’t dare to look inside so we admired it from the outside. We did not know however that the building has historical connection to greenery around. The foundations of this beautiful park containing the the Eiffel Tower began when the construction of the academy began. 

Since its beginning the building served the purpose of the military academy. Certainly, it needs proper spaces to train soldiers. Therefore, it was decided that around training grounds would be created. The estate was leveled off, the estate was fenced, and named after Roman god of war – Mars, or Martel in French. Since then, many important events have taken place there – celebrations, bloodsheds during demonstrations, or world exhibitions. In the present, the park is a public park intended for rest, celebrations, concerts, and fireworks.

Nothing like this took place in the time of our visit yet we were enchanted by the magic of this beautiful park. Anyway, back to the military school. It was founded in 1751 by Madame de Pompadour ith the support of Louis XV. Interesting factabout this building is that the chapel was built as the first, only then the other buildings were built. Its most famous alumni is Napoleon Bonaparte. The school became storage facility and barracks for a while. Since 1878 until the present, it has been a school again. We even wouldn’t know without our book guide what kind of building we encountered. With rich impressions we directed our steps to the other end of the park, back to the Eiffel tower.

Trocadéro – unusual outlook

Slowly the sunset started and the view of the Eiffel Tower was indescribable, so we decided to go the opposite viewpoint or rather Trocadéro square called us to this remarkable view perpetuated in our camera. On the way up the hill we met in addition to the hundreds of tourists and dark Eiffel Tower seller thumbnails for really low prices. We could not resist! Armed with souvenirs we continued our journey further, on the one hand, formed the so-called. "Trocadéro" park and on the other a huge Warsaw Fountain . The sight of her was fascinating. Large pools forming cascade installed twenty guns supplied the monumentality of this work.

The journey took us up the stairs. After the climbing we found ourselves on the marble square, which split Palais de Chaillot to two. This palace is a relic exhibition pavilion for the World Exhibition in 1937, replacing the already existent Palais du Trocadero . Today it houses a museum, theater and other cultural institutions, but those of us looking at iron beauty so not delivered. His admiration was paid only the Eiffel Tower, when suddenly the works under the square burst tremendous flow of water. This whole "show" lasted approximately five minutes. It was great water show, certainly something you shouldn’t miss while walking through Paris!

In 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thanks to this the place was included to main historical sights in Paris in 1980.

We waited until the sunset and slowly went back to the hotel. We're already looking forward to what will bring us the next day. But we will talk about for a week.

Text and photo: Oskár Mažgút