At the crossroads of the Champs-Elysées and the Louvre, theObélisque de la Concorde is one of the capital's must-see monuments. Foreign tourists are perhaps most familiar with it from films such as The Devil Wears Prada, in which the protagonists often drive around it at night, usually in a luxury car. A decorum that has become a symbol of Parisian chic and elegance, but one with a history.
Originally, it was one of the obelisks from Luxor temple in Egypt, dating from the 19th dynasty and commissioned by Ramses II. The obelisk is made of syenite, a magmatic rock, and is 23 metres high and weighs 230 tonnes. It is covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions, including the cartouche of Ramses II, in which the king makes an offering to the god Amun-Ra. At its summit sits a 3.60-metre pyramidion clad in bronze and covered with gold leaf.
The monument was moved to the Place de la Concorde in 1836. It was originally a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, to France as a sign of goodwill, with the approval of Jean-François Champollion. Two obelisks were offered, but only one was cut down and transported to France. In exchange, Louis-Philippe I offered a copper clock in 1845, which today adorns the citadel in Cairo. The second obelisk, which had never left Egypt, was officially returned by François Mitterrand during his first term in office.
Today, the Obelisk proudly dominates the Place de la Concorde, just opposite the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre and its pyramid, a reminder of its origins. It also faces the Madeleine church, the Champs-Elysées and the Palais Bourbon, and is a photographer's and tourist's delight.
Good to know: according to the Egyptians, the clock offered in exchange for the obelisk never worked. At least, that's what the people of Cairo say to this day, as it may have been damaged in transit.
