Heading west, I entered Bois de Boulogne, a large public park that used to be the former royal hunting grounds. The park is the remnant of an ancient oak forest and is the second-largest park in Paris. During the Hundred Years' War, it was used as a sanctuary and sometimes as a battleground. The Château de Bagatelle is located within its grounds and is said to have been constructed in two months due to a wager between Marie Antoinette and her brother-in-law.
Hilly Passy is within the 16th arrondissement and is home to the wealthy residents of Paris. The streets in this upmarket suburb are lined with luxurious restaurants, several museums, and foreign embassies. As I passed through the suburb, I crossed the Seine River onto Île aux Cygnes. This long, narrow artificial island was created to protect the Pont de Grenelle bridge. At one end of the island is a replica of the Statue of Liberty. It's a quarter of the scale of the larger version in New York City. A plaque and the tablet in its left hand bear the dates of the American Independence Day and the French Bastille Day.
Weaving through the neighbourhoods, I walked past the UNESCO World Heritage Centre headquarters. This specialised organisation of the United Nations was established in 1945 to promote "world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture". I have come across hundreds of UNESCO sites throughout my travels, and I appreciate the effort made to protect our natural wonders, significant landmarks, and intangible cultural heritage. The seven storey building forming a three-pointed star was the collaboration of several international architects, and it was opened in 1958.
I ended today's journey at Les Invalides, a large complex of army museums and monuments relating to France's military history. At the centre is the Dôme des Invalides, the tallest church in Paris that holds Napoleon Bonaparte's grand tomb. Under the dome, the tomb is contained within a circular crypt surrounded by pillars and relief panels. In the middle is a large sarcophagus placed on a green granite pedestal containing five coffins. Napoleon was laid to rest inside, in his Colonel's uniform, with his hat resting on his legs.
This next milestone was achieved through a couple of hours' housework. Got to count all that incidental exercise - especially when working up a sweat in this heat!
Somewhat inspired by this challenge, I convinced my guest to watch Midnight in Paris and much to my delight, enjoyed it as much as I did!
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