A Weekend in Paris: Lights, Art & Architecture
After spending the weekend à Paris, taking in the stunning views from the Eiffel Tower and passing through the glittering Champs-Élysées at night, I see now first-hand why Paris, France, is such a historic city of artists and romance. The streetlamps, the Renaissance architecture, the square cut trees and autumnal colours this month exemplified the beauty of the place. I even made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower undeterred by the cold this month (slightly colder than London). Lately, I’ve been quite occupied with attending events and some casting jobs, which left me a little exhausted and slightly ill. I definitely needed some respite, and Paris was the perfect place.
A 2/3 hour Eurostar journey, hand luggage and cosy winterwear for a quick weekend getaway, parfait. The Christmas lights along one street near the Champs-Élysées were a sparkling sight for a winter’s night. I saw quite a few impressive Christmas decorations throughout the city, all very beautifully constructed and truly enhancing the spectacle of a Parisian nighttime.
Aboard a pedicab made the night grander and offered a cool perspective; instead of looking through a car window, the ride up the avenue to the Arc de Triomphe was enchanting. The four sides of the arc’s pillars have sculptures that celebrate the French First Republic, the Treaty of Schönbrunn, the French resistance and the Treaty of Paris. The smaller relief sculptures above represent parts of the Napoleonic era and the French Revolution, so this very elaborate monument, engraved with a history and adorned with personifications, is an imposing showcase of craft and memoir.
Alongside the glamorous appeal of the city, on street level in the Port de la Chapelle district, situated in the north of Paris, quite a vast number of migrants/refugees seemed to populate the area. Seeing the contrast between the modish Paris and the slightly derelict district definitely reminded me that every place has its warm fascination as well as unromantic issues like shanty housing and immigration influx. It’s also a somewhat beguiling narrative where a city of artistry and Roman mythology comes up against a sort of Exodus.
Et Voila! The intricate, lacy structure, the iron lady. Built in the late 1800s, this cultural landmark is the tallest structure in Paris. Visitors have an option of climbing all the way to the top, taking the lift all the way or a combination of the two. Another celebratory construction of the French Revolution, this lattice tower is a captivating architectural design and the most recognised worldwide. Despite initial criticism and artistic protest at the time of construction of this metal erection, I can see how something of iron can still be delicate because of its precision and style. I found out that the tower is actually painted in three shades, darker at the bottom and lighter at the top, to complement the sky, which is a cool reminder of how fluid the art is in this city.
The viewing deck at the top offers breathtaking views, even the cloudy skies don’t take away from the palette and textures that create so vivid a scene. While upon the structure, you’ll definitely feel the cold at almost 1000 feet in the air, but it can still be greatly enjoyed while taking a lot of snaps and embracing the surrealness and beauty.
Gazing out at the cityscape, I thought about all the cultural references, like movies and paintings, that only gave me a glimpse of what Paris felt like. I photographed aerial-like shots of the city down below, void of the people below, instead emphasising the anatomy of the city as a whole; formations of organised design.
The Palais du Louvre is another grand structure, containing the largest global art collection in the Louvre Museum. Enclosed are the Louvre pyramids, and it was fascinating to find out that the palace was originally built as a fortress. Housing Greek and Roman sculptures and a host of curated masterpieces and exhibits from several antiquities. I know the Louvre became a huge place of interest after the publication of the “Da Vinci Code”; however, I haven’t read the book or seen the film and didn’t get a chance to check out the museum this time around. It looked charming from the outside, and museum visits are always nice, particularly when they’re not too crowded.
Grandeur, elegance and a city of fascination, that left me longing for more. As with any city, there’s simply so much to explore. In the words of le rat français…
“Humans… don’t just survive. They discover. They create” – Remy (Ratatouille) 🐀
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This is so beautifully written Jasmine, really enjoyed it! I’m afraid I’ve never had such a great time in Paris – I struggle with the metro system (despite somehow being able to manage the one in Tokyo!) and find people there quite rude. But I think that’s just the Parisian way… the city itself is stunning, as you so perfectly capture in your descriptions.
Thank you 💖 Ooh I’d like to visit Tokyo :)