“Notre-Dame de Paris has almost nine centuries of history behind it” seems like a fitting introduction to the Esplanade de la Rosace. We stand before a space subtly linked to one of Paris’s most iconic structures.
The Esplanade de la Rosace offers us a moment to consider the grandeur of Parisian history. The name itself evokes the image of a rose window. These magnificent architectural features adorn buildings like Notre-Dame.
Notre-Dame’s own rose window is known as the Rosace de la Vierge. It is considered a masterpiece. Bishop Maurice de Sully laid the first stone of Notre-Dame in 1163. This cathedral would become one of the most admired in the world.
The Historical Axis of Paris runs from the Louvre to La Défense. Interestingly, Notre-Dame Cathedral shares the same angle of orientation as this axis. It is approximately 1000 metres away from the Louvre Palace.
The Historical Axis includes several celebrated monuments. The Louvre with its Glass Pyramid stands as a starting point. The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel also features prominently. The Tuileries Garden provides an unbroken vista. Place de la Concorde with its Luxor obelisk marks another key point. The Avenue des Champs-Élysées leads to the Arc de Triomphe. Further along, we find the Esplanade de La Défense and the Grande Arche de la Fraternité.
The Louvre Palace was once the main residence of the kings of France. Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles in 1682. Today, the Louvre houses one of the world’s most wonderful museums.
President François Mitterrand wished to complete the Grand Louvre project for the bicentennial celebration of the French Revolution in 1989. This project included major renovations and the construction of the Glass Pyramid. The glass pyramid is not aligned with the other monuments on the Historical Axis.
An equestrian statue of Louis XIV was placed to correct the axis. The statue portrays the Sun King as Alexander the Great. Looking west the statue of Louis XIV aligns with the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.
The Tuileries Palace played a full role along the Historical Axis before its destruction in 1871. Its absence shifted the visual start of the axis back to the Cour Napoléon.
Place de la Concorde offers spectacular views. The Egyptian Obelisk stands in the middle of the square. The Glass Pyramid in the Louvre references the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The urban architect Le Nôtre designed the Tuileries Garden with the Champs-Élysées in mind. The Duke of Antin extended the perspective to the hillock of Chaillot. This is where the Arc de Triomphe now stands.
The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought for France. Its alignment along the Historical Axis is carefully calculated. The sun sets under the arches on particular days.
President Mitterrand expanded the perspective beyond the Arc de Triomphe by erecting the Grande Arche de la Défense. During the reign of Louis XIV, the axis became the route to reach the forest of Saint-Germain.
The Grande Arche occupies a place of honour on the western extremity of the Historical Axis. Urban planners positioned it to align with the Eiffel Tower and the Tour Montparnasse. The sizes of the three arches along the axis approximately double at each stage. The distances between the major landmarks also double each time.
The Esplanade de la Rosace allows us to reflect on this grand design. It is a testament to the ambition and vision of Paris’s planners and architects. As you continue your exploration of Paris remember the Esplanade de la Rosace. It represents a small piece of a much larger, historically significant puzzle.