The Obelisk, Paris oldest monument, to be restored for six months

If you happen to walk by the place de la Concorde, you will see a tarpaulin over the Obelisk, this incredible historic monument, and the oldest one in Paris. For six months, this 222-ton colossus will be cleaned up from the Parisian pollution and entirely restored to find its 3,300-year-old youth. This year, we celebrate the bicentenary of the deciphering of the hieroglyphs by Champollion, and this is this very occasion the Minister of Culture and the Louvre has picked to enhance the symbol of the history between Egypt and France.

The Obélisque de la Concorde, a historical treasure just a stone's throw from the Louvre
Over the years, the Obélisque de la Concorde has become one of the capital's must-see monuments. It has been enthroned on the Place de la Concorde since 1836, donated by the Egyptian government as a sign of goodwill towards France, and is a source of wonder to passing visitors, whether they're heading for the Champs-Elysées or the Louvre. Want to find out more? Click here to find out more. [Read more]

The Concorde Obelisk comes from Luxor, Egypt and dates back to the 19^th dynasty and ordered by Ramesses II. Made of syenite, a magmatic rock, the obelisk measures 75.45ft and is covered in hieroglyphs. The top is made of a pyramidion made of bronze and covered in gold leaves to improve it all. The obelisk was delivered in Paris in 1836, gifted by vice-king of Egypt Mehemet Ali as a token of good friendship with the agreement of Jean-François Champollion.

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Although there was not an emergency to restore it, the Louvre and the regional directorial board of cultural affairs wanted to place the monument at the heart of commemorations. Antoine-Marie Préaut – head of the regional conservation of historic monuments – told Le Parisien there were “no structural disorder, or safety issue or fragility. But it was dirty differently from one side to the other, depending on expositions. This was the occasion to clean it up in a more thoroughly and delicate manner than during prior renovations”. Incredible fact, the obelisk is still in good condition despite a few cracks here since always.