Paris, France

Paris, France

by Lucas Wagner

History of Paris

ca.

250 B.C.

A Celtic tribe known as the Parisii settle in the area.

250 A.D.

St. Denis introduces Christianity and is martyred by the Romans at Montmartre.

451

Attila the Hun comes, but a young girl, Geneviève, encourages the people to stay and pray. The Huns avoid Paris and are defeated elsewhere. Later, Geneviève becomes the patron saint of the city.

1140

The first Gothic cathedral, St. Denis, is built north of Paris.

1163

Maurice de Sully conceives of and begins the construction of Notre-Dame.

1180

Philippe Auguste becomes king and builds a fortified castle, known as the Louvre.

1215

University of Paris founded and with it the Latin Quarter.

1420

During the Hundred Years’ War, Paris occupied by forces of Henry the V.

1429

Joan of Arc besieges Paris but does not overthrow the English. A year later, Henry VI of England crowned King of France. Another year later, Joan of Arc is burned at the stake.

1436

Charles VII recaptures Paris, ending English occupation.

1515

François I rebuilds the Louvre in the new Renaissance style.

1517

Leonardo da Vinci comes to Paris with the Mona Lisa.

1562-1598

The Wars of Religion are fought. In 1572, on St. Bartholomew’s Day, 3000 protestants are massacred and their bodies thrown into the Seine. In 1598, Henry IV gives French Protestants (Huguenots) the right to public worship.

1606

Hospital of St. Louis built, which is the oldest in Paris, and still runs today.

1643-1715

Louis XIV, the Sun King, reigns, turning France into a powerful nation-state. He revokes the worshipping rights of the Huguenots in 1685. Their subsequent emigration almost wrecks the French economy.

1760

Louis XV builds the Panthéon and a square which later becomes the Place de la Concorde.

1789

On July 13th a young lawyer, Camille Desmoulins, exhorts the people to arms and storms the Bastille, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.

1792

Monarchy falls and the First Republic proclaimed.

1793-1794

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are guillotined at what is now known as the Place de la Concorde. The Louvre becomes a public museum. 2800 guillotine executions in the 13 month reign of terror.

1799

Napoléon appears on the scene and orders to be built the triumphal arches of the Carrousel and l'Étoile.

1804

Napoléon crowns himself Emperor and his wife Josephine empress.

1815

Battle of Waterloo defeats Napoléon’s army. Napoléon abdicates and is exiled.

1833

Mohammed Ali Pasha gifts a 230-ton Obelisk (from Luxor), which is installed at the Place de la Concorde.

1830-1871

More strife and bloodshed as power shifts among republics, kingships, and socialist (Communard) governments.

1863

Impressionist exhibit at the Salon des Refusés features work of Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Paul Cézanne.

1875

Construction of the Opéra Garnier completed.

1889

The World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle) is held in Paris. The Eiffel Tower is erected. Paris becomes an international center of fashion and entertainment.

1914-1918

World War I sees the German invasion, with trenches dug on both sides.

1918-1939

American writers such as Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway flee the prohibition. New philosophies arise: Constructivism, Dadaism, Surrealism, and Existentialism.

1940

Germany invades France. An armistice reached between Hitler and the French president Marshal Pétain has Germans occupying Paris with 40% of the rest of France free. General Charles de Gaulle creates the Maquis (French Resistance) and rallies French.

1944

June 6th, D-Day. Hitler orders General von Choltitz to destroy Paris, but he does not. General Leclerc liberates the city on August 25th.

1946

Women gain the right to vote with a new constitution in place.

1946-1962

French colonies gain independence—strife with African people.

1969-1974

Georges Pompidou is president. In his honor, the Centre Pompidou, both a library (Bibliothèque publique d'information) and an art museum (Musée National d'Art Moderne), opens in 1977.

1986

The Orsay Museum and the Cité des Sciences at La Villette are opened.

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Paris_chronohist.shtml

Some French Words

Conversation

· Merci – thank you

· Excusez-moi – excuse me

· S'il vous plait – please

· Fantastique – fantastic

· Parlez-vous anglais? – Do you speak English?

Places

· Musée – museum

· Maison – house

· Bibliothèque – library

· Rue – road/street

· Ile – isle / island

· Jardin – garden

· Mont – mountain

Numbers

1

un

11

onze

2

deux

12

douze

3

trois

13

treize

4

quatre

14

quatorze

5

cinq

15

quinze

6

six

16

seize

7

sept

17

dix-sept

8

huit

18

dix-huit

9

neuf

19

dix-neuf

10

dix

20 

vingt

http://french.about.com/library/begin/bl_numbers.htm

Geographical Paris

Paris is arranged in 20 arrondissements, or sections, which are numbered on the map on the next page. The first is in the heart and they count up by spiraling clockwise outward. A quick overview of what is in each:

· 1ère – holds the Louvre, Les Halles and the Palais Royal

· 2ème – is a business district and has the Paris Stock Market (the Bourse) and the Bibliothèque Nationale.

· The 3ème and 4ème arrondissement make up the Marais, an old, noble part of Paris. On the Seine are the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité (home to Notre Dame and the Conciergerie), which are the oldest parts of Paris.

· The 5ème and a part of the 6ème arrondissement make up the Latin quarter, where we are staying. The Sorbonne (University) had students speak Latin in the middle ages. Student bars and cafés are found here.

· 7ème – has the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d'Orsay

· 8ème – upscale neighborhood featuring the area around the broad avenue Champs Elysèe (Elysian Fields). At the far west end is the Arc de Triomph at l'Étoile, which is split among other higher numbered arrondissements.

· 9ème – The Opera Garnier is found here and in the north is the Moulin Rouge.

· 10ème – has the two main train stations in Paris

· 11ème – in the south can be found the Place de la Bastille and the Opéra de la Bastille.

· The rest (12ème – 20ème) are primarily residential. A few ones to note.

· 18ème – has Montmartre, the Basilique du Sacré Coeur, and artists painting portraits

· 20ème – holds the Belleville and the Père-Lachaise cemetery, buried here are Oscar Wilde and the supposed remains of Abélard and Héloïse.

http://www.parisnet.net/parismap.html

Map of Museums and Monuments

Museums:

1. Musée du Louvre – Paintings, sculpture (Palais Royal)

2. Musée des Arts Décoratifs / Musée des Arts de la Mode et du Textile – Interior design, tapestries, ceramics

3. Musée de l'Orangerie – On the Jardin des Tuileries

4. Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume – Same

5. Musées National des Arts et Métiers – Invention, art, trade (Arts et Metiers)

6. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature – Medieval weapons and stuffed animals

7. Musée National Picasso – Picasso’s work (Saint Paul or Chemin Vert)

8. Musée de la Serrurerie / Musée Bricard – Locksmithing

9. Musée Carnavalet – The history of Paris

10. Musée national d'Art moderne – Centre Georges Pompidou – Modern art in a crazy-looking building.

11. Maison de Victor Hugo – Author of Les Misérables

12. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle – Natural history

13. L'Institut du Monde Arabe – Art and culture of Arabic and Islamic people

14. Musée National du Moyen-Age; Thermes de Cluny – Medieval art

15. Musée de la Monnaie – French mint and treasury

16. Musée d'Orsay – Impressionist paintings (Musée d'Orsay)

17. Musée Auguste Rodin – Works of sculptor (Varenne)

18. Palais de la Découverte – Contemporary science showcase

19. Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais – Exhibition hall

20. Musée du Petit Palais – Books, paintings

21. Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie – Modern science museum

Monuments:1. Notre Dame – Old Gothic Church (Cité)

2. Conciergerie – Fortress, dungeon, prison

3. Palais Royal – Small royal theater

4. St. Eustache – Cathedral

5. Arc de Triomphe de la Carrousel – in front of the Louvre

6. Place Vendôme – A large stone column

7. Bourse – Paris stock exchange

8. Hôtel de Ville – Town hall

9. Place de la Bastille – Prison stormed at the start of the French Revolution

10. Opéra de la Bastille – Opera house

11. Panthéon – Half-church, half-mausoleum for great people like Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and Rousseau.

12. Jardin du Luxembourg – Gardens that surround of the palace of Luxembourg

13. Sénat – housed in the palace of Luxembourg

14. L'institut de France – Learning academies

15. Assemblée Nationale – Political national assembly

16. Hôtel National des Invalides – Originally an old soldiers home, now a museum of the army with monuments to disabled veterans

17. Tour Eiffel – Eiffel tower (Champ de Mars)

18. Arc de Triomphe – Triumphal arch located at l'Étoile

19. La Madeleine – Almost a Greek temple or rail way station, now a church and place for concerts

20. Place de la Concorde – place of guillotinings

21. Opéra Garnier – Large opera house

22. La Grande Arche de la Défense – A large modern hollow cube

23. Basilique du Sacré Coeur – Church of the Sacred Heart on Montmartre (Lamarck-Caulaincourt or Anvers)

http://www.paris.org/Maps/MM/

Select Places

The Louvre Museum

Built by the French Monarch Philippe Auguste in 1180 as a fortress, the Louvre now is a museum that holds works from the great artists. The museum is surrounded by the Tuileries garden and looks down the Champs Elysèe, toward the Arc de Triomphe. The Louvre normally hosts artwork from the ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, but also includes art from other times. For example, the Louvre holds the Vénus de Milo and work from Leonardo da Vinci—one famous painting in particular is the Mona Lisa. This year, the Louvre will exhibit Armenian Christian art from the 4th to 19th centuries.

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/musee/alaune.jsp

The Orsay Museum

The Orsay Museum holds artwork from the second half of the 19th century. Works from van Gogh and Monet are found here, as well as other impressionistic work.

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paris/hist/musee-orsay.html

Notre Dame

Maurice de Sully dedicated a new cathedral in 1163 to the Virgin Mary, and he had it built on the Ile de la Cité. Since it was built in an age of illiteracy, the Biblical stories are told visually in stained glass and paintings. It was built in the Gothic style and is an impressive sight to behold. The cathedral has seen the changes of the times. Soldiers prayed here as the left for the crusades.

An interesting fact—In 1768, geographers came to the idea that all distances in France were to be measured from the cathedral.

During the French Revolution (1789 onward), the cathedral was plundered. The statues of the saints were mistaken to be monarchs and were thrown down. The large bells (the south tower holds a 13-ton bell) were nearly the only treasures that were not destroyed at this time. The cathedral was then dedicated to the cult of Reason and later to the cult of the Supreme being, and was used for food storage. Napoléon crowned himself emperor here in 1804, a symbol for the power of the state over the church.

In the 1800s, Victor Hugo, among other artists, decried the run-down state of Notre Dame. Thus a restoration followed. But in 1871, the Communards (socialists) came close to burning down the cathedral. Luckily, the cathedral saw no significant damage.

After the liberation of Paris during World War II, General Charles de Gaulle offered a prayer of thanksgiving in Notre Dame. His Requiem Mass (death mass) was sung in 1970.

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Cathedrals/Paris/Notre-Dame.shtml

Place de la Concorde

Located on the East end of Champs Elysèe, in front of the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens, the Place de la Concorde has an interesting history in conjunction with the Palais de Justice on the Ile de la Cité. The Place de la Concorde was originally the Place Louis XV: the excuse of King Louis XV to showcase a statue of himself riding a horse. This was completed in 1763.

During the time of the French Revolution, those condemned to death (through the Palais de Justice) could face public execution on the newly renamed Place de la Révolution. Famous people who met their end at the end of the guillotine’s blade were Marie Antoinette and Robespierre, ironically one of the Revolution’s leaders. Nearly 1300 public executions were held here. As the political turmoil continued, the name of the Place was changed many times. It eventually became known as the Place de la Concorde.

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Monuments-Paris/Obelisque.shtml

The Grand Ax

The Grand Ax of Paris is the line along the axis of Champs Elysèe which holds the La Grande Arche de la Défense in the West, the Arc de Triomphe at l'Étoile, the Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde, and the Arc de Triomphe de la Carrousel found in front of the Louvre.

The two triumphal arches were commissioned by Napoléon after his successful battles, which they commemorate.

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Carrousel/

Montmarte and Sacré Coeur

Montmartre is the “mountain” of martyrs, especially named for the martyrdom of St. Denis. The hill has been visited by various saints such as Joan of Arc. The Basilica Sacré Coeur was built in 1873.

On Montmartre, the bohemian artistic life may still be found, though it was more prevalent in the 19th century. Picasso worked here.

http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/us/index.html

http://www.pariserve.tm.fr/English/paris/montmart.htm

Restaurant Tips

In Paris we will be able to find a variety of tasty pastries and sandwiches—croissants, tarts, éclairs, and cakes—and cheese. To keep on a modest budget, stay away from the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Elysées. Try to find the neighborhoods where Parisians live and work, because that is where the price and quality must be competitive. Don’t worry about tipping the waiter—service price included in the meal.

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Paris_rest.shtml

Musée National de Picasso

The Picasso Museum has a collection of several thousand works of Pablo Picasso. Picasso was born in 1881 in Spain and he began to study art in 1895. During his life he created diverse works including painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, engraving, and even poetry. To house the collection, they chose to use a seventeenth century hotel. Today, there are 203 paintings, 191 sculptures, 85 ceramics, and over 3000 drawings, engravings, and manuscripts in the museum. Besides the personal collection of Picasso, the museum also has some works of Cézanne and Matisse.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, but it was not finished until 1836. There are four huge sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810, Resistance, Peace and The Departure of the Volunteers. Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and eternal flame commemorating those who died in the two world wars. Inside the Arch there is a museum documenting its history and construction. From the roof there are spectacular views of Paris. In the east, you can see down the Champs Elysées, toward the Louvre.

Eiffel Tower Info, by Katie Kluver

If you were to think of Paris, what is the first thing that would come to your mind? If you thought of the Eiffel Tower, you are correct! Here is some information on the Eiffel Tower that you may find interesting as you visit this amazing monument!

The Eiffel Tower, or the Tour Eiffel in French, was first opened on March 31, 1889 for the Universal Exhibition in celebration of the French Revolution.

The design began in 1884, with over 5,300 different designs produced. The construction began in 1887 and lasting two years, two months and 5 days.

It is built from 18,038 pieces of metal and is held together by 2,500,000 rivets.

The whole structure weighs 10,100 tons.

With the flagpole on top, the total height of the Eiffel Tower is 324 meters.

The force of the wind causes the top of the tower to sway 6 to 7 centimeters.

Since its opening until the end of 2004, there have been over 216 million visitors.

Ever wonder how many steps lead to the top of the Eiffel Tower? Well, you have to up 1665 steps in order to reach the top!

The tower is owned by the city of Paris.

The pillars are oriented in the manner of the four cardinal points, contained within a square with 125-meter sides.

Until the construction of the Chrysler Building in 1930 by William Van Allen, architect, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world.

The tower is repainted every five years, using 50 tons of paint.

The Eiffel Tower has used many different types of lighting so that the whole structure can be illuminated. Since its opening, the tower has used sodium lamps, neon lights, incandescent lamps, gas lighting and also electricity. In 1925, the tower lights were used as advertising for businesses. In 1937, colored lighting was added to the handrails. Now, the lights are inside the structure of the tower. Recently, there were four projector lights added to the tower. They are run by a computer that moves them 90 degrees and they are synchronized so that they form a double beam in a cross that pivots around 360 degrees. For the New Year each year, the tower lights are redesigned to be even more spectacular than the year before.

For the time that we will be there, the Eiffel Tower will be open every day. If you want to use the elevator, the hours are 9:30 am to 11:45 pm. It will cost you 10,70 euros to take the elevator to the top. If you want to take the stairs, which is recommended by other trip participants, it will cost you 3,00 euros but will only get you to the second floor. The hours for the stairs are more limited, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.

One thing that is highly recommended by past trip participants and others who have visited the Eiffel Tower is to eat at the restaurant on the second floor. The restaurant is called Jules Verne and features gourmet cuisine. They are open daily from 12:30 to 2:30 pm and from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. The restaurant is located about 400 feet off the ground and offers a beautiful view of the city. If you want to eat there, you must make reservations in advance. The phone number is 01.45.55.61.44.

London England

Brief History:

· Londinium was a permanent military camp set up by the Romans in 43 AD.

· In 1016 Danish ruler Canute declared London as the capital of England.

· 1066 William the Conquer was crowned king after winning the Battle of Hastings.

· 1348 the bubonic plague struck and killed half of London’s population in two years.

· November 5th 1605, Guy Fawkes and Catholic conspirators failed at an attempt to kill the king by blowing up the buildings of Parliament at the State Opening.

· 1665 plague broke out in London killing over 100,000.

· 1666 the Great Fire burned down 80% London and leaving 100,000 without homes.

· The Great Rebuilding took place, notably with Sir Christopher Wren with the design of the new St. Paul’s Cathedral.

· 1714-1727 was the world’s largest city at the time, with close to one million people, but also the worst mortality rate since beginning of records. With the consumption of Gin being the big killer. With an average of 2 pints a week for imbibing.

· In 18th and 19th centuries London saw much growth and also the Industrial Revolution.

Current London:

· Capital of England.

· Greater London covers an area of about 611 sq mi.

· There are 32 London boroughs plus the City of London.

· Population around 7.2 million.

· Currency is the British pound. Currently is at $2 to £1.

Currency and some usual prices.

UK cost of Food & Drink

· Average pub meal £6 - £10

· Average restaurant meal £12 - £20

· Pint of beer £2.50 - £3

· Average bottle of wine £10

· Average meal for two in mid-priced restaurant £40

UK cost of Entertainment

· Movie £7-£10

· West End Theatre £25+

· Club/Pub Entry £5 - £20

· Live music/concerts £10+

· Chart CDs £8 - £12

· New release DVD rental £3.50

The British Pound can be broken up into coins and notes.

Notes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50.

Coins are denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2.

The current worth for the British Pound is $2 to £1, 2 US dollars to one British Pound. Pretty much just multiply your purchase by 2 to determine how many US dollars you’re spending.

Tipping is around 10-15% and is usually included in meals.

London Weather.

Varies greatly through out the day, but generally expect it to be mild and damp. With temperatures around 50F-70F.

Transportation.

· The Tube:

· The Underground Subway system.

· Color coded to help figure out where to go.

· Common courtesy applies, enter train after others have exited, move away from the exits.

· Don’t lose that Ticket. (

· Taxis:

· There are two different types of Taxis, the Black Cab and the Minicab.

· The Black Cabs have professional drivers and are tested on the layout of where to go in the city.

· You can hail the black cabs or book them before hand.

· The minicabs have free-lance drivers and need to be booked before hand. Make sure if there is no meter to establish your fare before getting in.

Calling Home from London.

Example to call the school it would be 00-1-218-299-CORD, or as you would type it in the phone 0012182992673. This is just 00 plus the area code then the number.

Here are a couple of the different museums that can be visited. All are free admission unless otherwise noted.

The British Museum.

· Open from 10:00am-5:30pm. Sat-Wed and 10:00am-8:30pm Thurs and Fri.

There are many different objects and collections here.

Some of the objects include

· The Rosetta Stone

· Horsemen from the west frieze of the Parthenon

· The Portland Vase

· The Great Dish from the Mildenhall treasure

· Throne of weapons

· Helmet from the ship-burial at Sutton Hoo

Some of the collections are.

· Stein Collection

· Chinese Buddhist paintings

· Palaeolithic art

· Amaravati sculpture

· decorative arts (19th-century Europe)

· Etruscan vases

· Iron Age Europe

· Greek vases

· Japanese prints

· Indian paintings

· African textiles

· Greek gems

· Vindolanda writing tablets

· Italian maiolica

· Indian sculpture

· Coptic textiles

· Assyrian palace reliefs

· astrology and astronomy

· amulets

The Science Museum

Exhibition Road in South Kensington,

London, SW7 2DD

Tube: South Kensington closest station

· Open from 10:00am-6:00pm.

· Extra money to do some of the simulations.

· 2nd floor has the Mathematics exhibit.

· Has many different hands on activities.

Natural History Museum of London.

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road,

London SW7 5BD

Tube: South Kensington closest station

· Open from 10:00am-6:00pm.

· Includes many different galleries.

Some of the Highlights are the Dinosaurs, Earth’s precious gems, Power within earthquake tests, and many others.

Other Museums that can be visited to for free include.

Sir John Soane's Museum:

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields,

London, WC2A 3BP

· Open Tues-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm

· All groups of over 6 people must book in advance

· A miniature British Museum.

Victoria Albert Museum:

Cromwell RoadLondon SW7 2RL

· Open 10:00am-5:45 daily

· The collections including ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, metalwork, paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, and textiles.

· There is an additional charge for certain parts of the museum.

National Maritime Museum:

In Greenwich.

· The National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Royal Observatory are open from 10:00am-5:00pm.

· The National Maritime Museum's collection contains over two million objects related to seafaring, navigation, astronomy and measuring time.

Most of the museums allow photography without flash. You can’t bring in large bags into the museum and most have a limited storage for bags.

Where we are staying at we are within easy walking distance of what is called the Museum Mile.

The Museum Mile

1 The British Library: Has the gallery "Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library" which is open to the public free of charge.

96 Euston RoadNW1 2DB

2 UCL Museums and Collections: Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology which is open to the public and free admission.

UCL, Gower StreetWC1E 6BT

3 Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: Has Chinese Ceramics from the 10th to 18th century. Opened Monday to Friday 10.00 - 12.30 and 1.30 - 5.00.

53 Gordon SquareWC1H 0PD

4 The Foundling Museum: Foundling Hospital Collection includes works of art by William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds, and others. Open Tues–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 12–6pm. Admission £5.

40 Brunswick SquareWC1N 1AZ

5 Brunei Gallery, SOAS: School of Oriental and African Studies is a college of the University of London.

University of LondonRussell SquareWC1H 0XG

6 British Museum: Admission is free to all visitors, more about it under it’s own section.

Great Russell StreetWC1B 3DG

7 Sir John Soane’s Museum: Houses architecture pictures. Is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10-5pm when admission is free.

13 Lincoln’s Inn FieldsWC2A 3BP

8 The Library and Museum of Freemasonry: library and museum open Mon to Fri 10am–5pm, free admission

Freemasons’ HallGreat Queen StreetWC2B 5AZ

9 Royal Opera House: Three different performances. Pelléas et Mélisande, Eros ~Eris / Echo and Narcissus, Swan Lake booking ahead of time. About 12 pounds and 3 hour run times.

Bow StreetCovent GardenWC2E 9DD

10 Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons: Displays on the history of surgery including the collection of the 18th century surgeon/anatomist, John Hunter.

35 - 43 Lincoln’s Inn FieldsWC2A 3PE

11 Theatre Museum: Now closed to public.

12 London’s Transport Museum: Closed for Refurbishment until sometime 2007. Open only on weekends.

Covent Garden PiazzaWC2E 7BB

The following three are in the Somerset House, Strand.

13 Courtauld Institute of Art: A collection of British art ranging from Old Master paintings to Impressionist and 20th century art. Daily 10:00 - 18:00 £5.00

WC2R 0RN

14 Hermitage Rooms: Closed for preparations for next exhibit

WC2R 1LA

15 Gilbert Collection: Daily 10.00 - 18.00, at £5.00

WC2R 1LA

References:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

http://www.museum-mile.org/

http://na.visitlondon.com/city_guide/about_london/

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/visit/index.html

http://www.londontourist.org/museums.html#rest

Stonehenge

Located on the Salisbury Plain two miles west of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in Southern England

Purpose

· Unknown even today, though there are many speculations

· May have been place of worship for ancient pagans

· May have served as a solar calendar – many of the stones line up with the sun on important days like the equinoxes

· Built during different time periods, so it may have had evolving purposes

Stone Construction

· Late Neolithic period, around 3000BC

· Likely indigenous people, called “Beaker Folk,” who used pottery drinking vessels, and who began to use metal tools and live in communities

· Arthurian Legend

· Stones in Ireland, Giant’s Ring, brought from Africa by giants

· After 300 British nobles were massacred, Merlin suggested a monument for them

· Took the Giant’s Ring stones from Ireland and put them where Stonehenge is located today around the mass grave of the nobles

Layout

· First a large earthwork, bank and ditch arrangement called a henge, 3000BC

· Bluestones, 2000BC; first stone circle, abandoned before completion, 4tons each

· Sarsen stones, 1500BC; outer stone circle, 50tons each, lintels along top surfaces

Today

· Ruins of its bygone days; many of the original stones have been removed

· Damage to smaller bluestones by visitor contact (which was banned in 1978)

· Prehistoric carvings on sarsen stones show signs of significant wear

· Still an impressive sight after all the years

· Steeped in mystery, treated as place of honor

· Annual Druid ceremonies during summer solstice

Greenwich

The tube station is the North Greenwich tube station on the Jubilee Line. It can be reached by the 129 or 188 buses from the town center.

Royal Observatory

· Home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line

· Prime Meridian defined by the position of the Transit Circle telescope in the Meridian Building of the Observatory, built by Sir George Biddle Airy

· International Meridian Conference in 1884 decided Greenwich Meridian would be Prime Meridian; at the time, 72% of commerce depended on sea charts that already used Greenwich as Prime Meridian

· Official international start time for each new day, year, and millennium at the stroke of midnight GMT

· Founded by Charles II in 1675

· Built to improve navigation at sea, to find one’s exact east-west position using astronomical means, while out at sea away from the sight of land

· Also concerned with accurate measurement of time

· Since 1833 the red time ball has dropped everyday at 1300 hours (1:00pm) to allow ships to accurately set their clocks

· Harrison gallery: keeps first timekeepers that were built by John Harrison to accurately measure longitude at sea

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress The Tower of London

Open 9am-5pm M-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun. £8.50 for students, £11.30 for adults. Nearest Tube station is Tower Hill. Bus routes 15, 25, 42, 78, 100 and D1.

History

· Great/White Tower built in 1066-1087 by William the Conqueror

· Built to solidify new rule of William over the Anglo-Saxons he had conquered

· Residential palace and fortress

· Constantly expanded, adding smaller towers, extra buildings, walls and walkways

Usage

· Primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners, such as the Princes in the Tower and the future Queen Elizabeth I)

· It has also served as a place of execution and torture

· Other uses include: an armory, a treasury, a zoo, a mint, a public records office, an observatory

· Since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom

· Tours are given throughout the day by Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) who have guarded this royal palace for centuries

· The name Beefeaters may have come from the French word “buffetier.” Buffetiers were guards in the palace of French kings who protected the king's food.

· Ravens have supposedly lived in the Tower for centuries; it is said that if they ever leave the Tower, the monarchy will fall

Current Layout

At the centre of the Tower of London is the original Norman White Tower. This is situated in the Inner Ward, defended by a massive curtain wall, which has thirteen towers:

· Bloody Tower (or the Garden Tower), so named after a legend that the Princes in the Tower were murdered here. Allegedly also haunted by the latter.

· Bell Tower

· Beauchamp Tower (pronounced 'Beecham')

· Deveraux Tower

· Flint Tower

· Bowyer Tower

· Brick Tower

· Martin Tower

· Constable Tower

· Broad Arrow Tower

· Salt Tower

· Lanthorn Tower

· Wakefield Tower

The entrance to the Inner Ward is on the south side under the Bloody Tower. Outside of this is the Outer Ward, defended by a second massive curtain wall, flanked by five towers on the river face:

· Byward Tower

· St Thomas's Tower

· Cradle Tower

· Develin Tower

· Middle Tower

· Well Tower

The west entrance is referred to as the Traitor’s Gate, as this was where many prisoners throughout history were led. This is a part of St. Thomas’ Tower.

General Cathedral Construction and Design

Span from Early English Gothic to the Renaissance to modernist design. Elaborate and brightly colored before Reformation and English Civil War resulted in destruction of cathedral art.

Old Norman cathedrals used wooden roofs, which led to their susceptibility to destruction by fire. After stone was introduced as an element for all parts of the cathedral buildings, they more easily withstood the elements.

Cathedrals have similar floor plans, with the general outline laid out in the following image:

St. Paul’s Cathedral

The Tube station is St. Paul’s on the Central Line, a five minute walk from the Cathedral. In a group, it will cost £8.50 per person, with less than 10 people it would be £9.50. Tours are held during the day, and cost £3.00

History

· Since 640AD, a Cathedral dedicated to St. Paul has been located on this site

· Current Cathedral is the fourth on the site

· Built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1675 and 1710 after the predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London

Nave: Public and Ceremonial space, designed for congregations at large services

North Aisle:

Chapel of All Souls: Dedicated in 1925 to the memory of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener and the servicemen who died in WWI. Includes sculptures of military saints Michael and George, a pieta, and an effigy of Kitchener. Built earlier.

Chapel of St. Dunstan: Consecrated in 1699, 2nd part of Wren’s building to come into use, 1905 dedicated to St Dunstan, a Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury 1000 years prior

Wellington’s Monument: 1912 completion, dedicated to the Duke of Wellington

South Aisle: Chapel of St. Michael and St George; originally the consistory court where the bishop sat in judgment over the clergy

North Transept: Short, central arms of the ground plan; William Holman Hunt’s 1900 painting The Light of the World is the primary feature; services held in Middlesex Chapel

South Transept: Monument to Britain’s greatest naval hero, Admiral Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Other memorials for painter JMW Turner and Captain Robert Scott (died returning from the South Pole in 1912)

The Quire: Where choir and clergy normally sit during services; first part of the Cathedral to be built and consecrated; bishop’s throne is on south side

The Organ: Installed 1695, rebuilt three times; third largest in the UK, 7189 pipes, 5 keyboards, 138 organ steps

The High Altar: Dates from 1958, made of marble and carved oak; canopy based on a sketch by Wren

North Quire Aisle: Gates designed by French master metalworker Jean Tijou; contains sculpture Mother and Child by Henry Moore; memorial to modern martyrs honors Anglicans who died since 1850 defending faith

South Quire Aisle: Statue of Virgin and Child, and effigies of two bishops of London; marble effigy of John Donne who died in 1631 – scorch marks from Great Fire can be seen on its base

Apse: Home to American Memorial Chapel, which honors more than 28,000 Americans who died in WWII on their way to or stationed in the UK, dedicated in 1958

Dome:

The original ball and cross were erected in 1708. They were replaced in 1821. The ball is 23 feet high and weighs 7 tons.

The Golden Gallery runs around the highest point of the outer dome, 530 steps from ground level. This was also completed in 1708.

The Dome itself crowns the intersection of the arms of the cross that makes up the shape of the building. It is one of the largest cathedral domes in the world, at 111.3 meters high and weighing 65,000 tons. It is supported by 8 pillars. The mosaics of prophets and saints were installed between 1864 and 1868. The murals in the dome were created between 1715 and 1719 and feature scenes from the life of St. Paul.

The Stone Gallery is 173 feet above ground level. It encircles the outside of the dome.

The Whispering Gallery runs around the interior of the dome. A whisper on one side is audible on the opposite, which gives it its name.

Crypt: The crypt includes the burial tombs of three major British historical figures. Nelson’s Tomb is the first of these. The monument includes a call to national prayer that he wrote in view of the enemy before the Battle of Trafalgar. His funeral took place at St. Paul’s on January 9, 1807. Wellington’s Tomb is the second of the tombs. He defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. He was known as the Iron Duke as a result of his tireless campaigning. The banners around the tomb were made for his funeral procession. The final tomb is that of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s. He is surrounded by the tombs and memorials of his family. Other artists, scientists, and musicians are buried nearby. The OBE Chapel is at the east end of the crypt. It was dedicated to the Order of the British Empire in 1960. The glass panels feature the present sovereign, scenes from the Commonwealth, and the royal founders of the OBE. Banners represent members of the royal family.

The Library

The library of Dean and Chapter is situated at triforium level behind the south-west tower. The library’s collection was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Lists surviving from 1313 onwards give a picture of the pre-fire library. Wren’s library chamber was restocked by the Commissioners for rebuilding St Paul’s: they bought collections, including valuable Bibles and liturgical texts. The subject strength of the historical collections lies in theology and church history. Current acquisitions are restricted to major works on the history of the Church in England, on Wren and the building of the Cathedral, the Church in the City, and ’alumni’ material.

Music and Choir: There has been a choir of boys and gentlemen for over 900 years. The earliest records of this are from 1127. The choir is composed of 30 choristers (boy trebles), 8 probationers (who will become choristers), and 18 adults (6 counter-tenors, 6 tenors, and 6 basses). Evensong is sung daily, and 3 services occur on Sundays.

St. Paul’s Organists: The post is also the Director of Music, who trains the choir, selects music, and maintains performance standards. The position is that of high prestige, and follows a line of illustrious past musicians. The current Organist is Malcolm Archer since 2004.

Westminster Abbey

The nearest Tube stations are St. James’s Park on the District and Circle lines, and Westminster on the Jubilee, District, and Circle lines. Open from 9:30am-7:00pm on Wed, May 23 (closes 3:45 every other day of the week).

History

· 1040s, King Edward wanted to establish royal palace on land known as Thorney Island

· Near Benedictine monastery founded under patronage of King Edgar and St. Dunstan around 960AD

· Monastery reendowed and enlarged, with a new stone church to honor St. Peter the Apostle

· Known as the “west minster,” distinguished from St. Paul’s which was the east minster

· Traces of this Norman monastery are only found in the round arches and columns of the Undercroft in the Cloisters, now the Abbey Museum

· Coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066

· 13th Century, King Henry III decided to rebuild in Gothic style

· Every monarch since William the Conquerer has been crowned in the Abbey, with the exceptions of Edward V and Edward VIII (never crowned)

· Edward the Confessor’s body translated into a tomb behind the High Altar; now surrounded by medieval kings and their consorts

· Contains over 600 monuments and wall tablets

· King Henry VII: built Lady chapel; commissioned Italian sculptor Torrigiano; banners of the Knights of the Order of the Bath

· Great west window and rose window date to early 18th century, rest of glass to 19th century

· Queen Elizabeth I refounded Abbey in 1560 as Collegiate Church in place of monastic community; civil government of Westminster until early 20th century; educational role as well

· 900th anniversary in 1965-66

Salisbury Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Mary)

The nearest Tube station is Salisbury. The Cathedral opens at 7:15am and closes at 6:15pm. Other connected areas open at 9:30am and close at 5:30pm.

History

· 1075-1092: Norman Cathedral built at Old Sarum

· 1220: New Cathedral started on Salisbury Water Meadows

· 1258: Cathedral dedicated

· 1265: Bell Tower built, West Front finished

· 1330: Completion of Tower and Spire

· 1714: Wren Hall is completed

· 1788-1791: Restoration by James Wyatt; Demolition of Bell Tower and churchyard leveled

· 1860-1878: Restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott

· 1945-1951: Top 30 feet of spire rebuilt

· 2000: Completion of repair and conservation of the Spire, Tower, and West Front

· Cathedral Church of Salisbury diocese

· Center of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year

· Built within one century with no substantial later additions

· Tallest church spire in the UK (404ft)

· Largest cloister in England

· One of four surviving copies of the Magna Carta

· Consistent architecture: Early English Gothic

· Clock dates from 1386, most likely oldest working clock in existence; no face since all clocks of the time rang the hours on a bell

· Famous artwork by Lawrence Whistler (glass prism) and Elizabeth Frink (Walking Madonna)

· Also has historical Organist, currently David Halls since 2005

· Organ built in 1877

West End Theater District

London's main theatre district is located in the heart of the West End of the city centre, and is traditionally defined by The Strand to the south, Oxford Street to the north, Regent Street to the west, and Kingsway to the east although The South Bank Complex is now considered by some to be part of it. Prominent theatre streets include Drury Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, and The Strand. This area contains approximately forty large theaters, and is often called Theatreland. The works staged are predominantly musicals, classic or middle brow plays, and comedy performances.

Most of the theatres in Theatreland are of late Victorian or Edwardian construction, and they are privately owned. Most feature grand neo-classical, romanesque, or Victorian facades and luxurious, detailed interior design and decoration. Leg room is often cramped, and audience facilities such as bars and toilets are often much smaller than in modern theatres. The protected status of the buildings and their confined urban locations, combined with financial constraints, mean that it is very difficult to make substantial improvements to the level of comfort offered.

The longest-running shows include The Mousetrap (55 years), Les Miserables (22 years), Cats (21 years), and The Phantom of the Operaa (21 years).

There is a half price ticket booth in Leicester Square where great deals can be found every day. Be warned that some of the most popular shows are booked out long in advance. Do not buy tickets from touts outside the theatres. You be overpaying and they may not be genuine tickets. Contact the box office directly and if they are sold out they can direct you to a reputable agent who may have tickets left.

Out of West End

Many major important theatres and National venues are sited beyond the traditional West End theatre land. They include the Royal National Theatre on the South Bank; the nearby Young Vic, Old Vic and Globe Theatres; Sadlers Wells in Roseberry Avenue and Barbican Arts Centre to the east; and the Royal Court Theatre in Chelsea.

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HYPERLINK "http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/" http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/

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http://www.stpauls.co.uk

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_abbey

http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Cathedral

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/Theaterland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_theatre

http://www.darlingtonhotel.co.uk/london/theatredistrict.htm