29.4.09

Trocadero - Palais de Chaillot


Often when you visit or wish to have a nice view of the Eiffel Tower, you would go to Trocadero. I have already posted about the Eiffel Tower a number of times and also about the immediate neighbour, the quite interesting Passy Cemetery.


Actually we are on a hill with the name Chaillot. On this place you found during some preceding centuries a castle, then a nunnery, destroyed during the Revolution. For a while Napoleon wanted to build a palace here.

The place later got the name of Trocadero referring to another battle won (what else?), close to Cadiz in 1823 - once more the French tried to interfere in Spain. (To find a place commemorating Waterloo you must go to London.)

Finally another type of palace, also under the name of Trocadero, was built for the 1878 World Exhibition. (The Eiffel Tower was not yet there; it was built for the 1889 Exhibition.) It burnt in 1935 and was replaced by the present “Palais de Chaillot” in 1937 for another World Exhibition and at the same time the surrounding park was restructured with its water basins etc...

Here you can see what the place used to look like before, a famous photo from 1940 taken by Eva Braun and another one of Eleanor Roosevelt, co writer of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted at the “Palais de Chaillot” in 1948 by the General Assembly of the newly established United Nations. Today, it’s a place frequently used for demonstrations; here you can see an ongoing one, organised by Sri Lankan Tamils.
The present “Palais de Chaillot” contains naval and ethnological museums in one of its wings, architectural and monumental museums in the other wing and, in the middle (below the esplanade), an important theatre (“Théatre National de Chaillot”).
It’s a place for some important events, outdoor concerts etc., but also on a daily basis you will find a number of more spontaneous performances.
The park is very nice with plenty of green areas for a little rest, there is an aquarium and some remains from the destroyed Tuileries Palace (see previous post)...
Around “Place de Trocadéro”, there are a number of places to take care of your thirst and hunger.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

These photographs are real treats, Peter. It shows so much color, activity and just plain old splendor. Nice photos. Good post.

Bob Crowe said...

What an exhaustive survey of history, architecture and images. We did not get to Trocadero during our recent visit but it surely has one of the best views in the city.

Cezar and Léia said...

Congratulations Peter!Fantastic series !
I'm Eleanor Roosevelt fan. She was a great woman.
In the last picture I notice "Andy Garcia"with red "pantalon"enjoying his capuccino ! LOL
Great capture!
Léia

Cheryl said...

Oh, Peter, I so wish I was there!!!!

James said...

Oh how I wish I was there. Thanks for the great information and wonderful pictures.

Virginia said...

This was a treat from my last visit. I had never visited before but the view of la tour was wonderful. BTW I learned how to keep those annoying key chain vendors away........try and take their photo! They DO NOT lilke that. I'm not sure but I think I was cursed en français! Of course you were not there to translate so I gave him a very "Parisian" sneer and walked away!HA
V

SusuPetal said...

The top photo is like a painting the dance of light and shadows is just beautiful.

alice said...

Ta première photo si bucolique contraste avec une architecture que je trouve un peu..."pays de l'Est"!

Olivier said...

tient j'étais pas loin, la semaine dernière, j'étais au musée Branly pour l'exposition sur un siècle de Jazz (exposition magnifique). Après promenade bucolique vers la tour eiffel....Les jardins public de Paris au printemps sont superbes et très agréables a regarder ;o)

Catherine said...

Ca donne envie d'y faire son petit tour...... j'attendrai que revienne le soleil néanmoins. Sinon, l'impression ne sera pas la même.

Cergie said...

Le musée de l'homme est fermé pour réfection....
J'ai déjà mangé dans le coin après avoir été voir l'expo sur la naissance. Pas terrible, tu as une adresse précise ?
J'ai vu qu'il y a une émission à pas louper ce soir à la télé sur la Tour Eiffel qui va fêter son anniv. le 15 mai (et non, elle n'est pas née en avril !)

hpy said...

Je pourrais faire miens les commentaires de SusuPetal et Alice. Plus celui de SusuPetal que celui d'Alice. Ce serait un peu paresseux de ma part, pourtant. N'est-ce pas?

Adam said...

You must have a stock of about 2 million photos on your hard drive now!

You make this area look very tempting, but I think I prefer the old building really. I can see why Hitler wanted his photo taken in this newer architecture!

You didn't photograph or mention one of the most annoying attractions of this area - the Senagalese salesman trying to hawk anything from flapping plastic birds to hats and key rings!

Shaun said...

My wife doesnt want to visit Paris. I have faith that your blog will change her mind and have sent her the URL... from looking around I think you are my best shot at it.... nice blog.

Delphine said...

WoW! Peter you certainly know how to do an informative Blog that is interesting and an adventure to look at! I love those collages...

Ruth said...

I like standing on that "terrace" - feels so open and high in a way. Unlike the Concorde where there are buses everywhere.

I didn't not realize how much was here, and history too.

claude said...

Quel beau travail de montage. C'est un endroit que je connaît bien de paris mais tu y apportent des précisions très intéressantes. CJe ne connaissais pas la métamorphose du palais de Chaillot. Hitler devant la Tour Eiffel : Un soldat de plomb devant la Dame de fer.

Shammickite said...

When I was in Paris, we walked from the Eiffel Tower to Trocadero, there were youths skateboarding on the steps. It was a hot day and I had my picture taken with a group of handsome young gendarmes! Happy memories.

Carole said...

j'aime beaucoup celle où la tour Eiffel se reflète.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

The first picture is a marvel! I am thrilled by the lushness it depicts! Wonderful!

april said...

It's always very nice (though very touristique in another way) to get out of the métro at Trocadéro, climb up to Palais Chaillot et - surprise, surprise - voilà: la Tour Eiffel.

hpy said...

Bon weekend! Ensoleillé si possible. Comme la première de tes photos.

CushmoK said...

toujours intéressant de découvrir sa capitale au travers des yeux d'un étranger.. étranger attentif qui doit prendre garde à ne pas devenir français !

Parisbreakfasts said...

I've never ventured beyond the plaza of the Palais de Chaillot..oh and of course Carette and the Marine musee.
So much more to see!
Paris is endless.

PeterParis said...

Abe:
Thanks for your regular visits and always kind words! :-)

Bob:
Yes, of course, but I tried this time also to look in some other directions! :-)

Léia:
I was sure you would recognise Andy! :-)

PeterParis said...

Cheryl:
Often wishes come true! Soon! :-)

James:
Same as Cheryl! :-)

Virginia:
They were all absent last week when I took the photos! I saw more of attractive girls (some on the photos)! :-)

PeterParis said...

SusuPetal:
So I choose the right photo then! :-)

Alice:
Oui, c'est l'architecture de 1937! On n'aime pas toujours. :-)

Olivier:
Alors, tu te déplaces jusqu'à Paris de temps en temps! :-)

PeterParis said...

Catherine:
C'est vrai que le soleil change beaucoup! Les pelouses étaient bien remplies! :-)

Cergie:
Pour vraiment bien manger? Non, peut-être pas. Il faut aller quelques centaines de mètres plus loin je pense! On se voit? :-)

hpy:
Donc, je commente pareil chez toi, comme chez Alice et Susupetal? :-)

PeterParis said...

Adam:
Hitler must have been very proud! The building was almost brand new when he was there. Actually, I didn't see any of these salesment when I was there last week. Maybe the place was too full of demonstrators? :-)

Shaun:
Thanks for your visit here! Someone who doesn't want to visit Paris? Is that possible? :-)

Delphine:
Thanks so much! I appreciate! Really! :-)

PeterParis said...

Ruth:
It's tru that you mostly go there for the view of the Tower, but there is a bit more to see! :-)

Claude:
L'ex-parisienne apprend tous les jours dans mon blog! Je suis fier! :-)

Shammickite:
It would be nice if you could show the photo in a post! :-)

PeterParis said...

Carole:
Mois aussi! J'ai hesité de la mettre en grand, mais elle était verticale... :-)

Rakesh:
Yes, I wanted to emphasize the green part of the place! :-)

April:
Except a very foggy day! Then you have the museums and the cafés still! :-)

PeterParis said...

hpy (bis):
Merci! A toi aussi! :-)

CushmoK:
Thanks for this first comment here (I believe)! Aujourd'hui je me sens pourtant presque français! J'espère que j'ai le droit? :-)

ParisBreakfasts:
I knew about the Carettes (and the macarons), but didn't know you also went to see the Marine Museum! :-)

Bergson said...

je fonce au trocadero il n'y a que des belles filles sur la pelouse

PeterParis said...

Bergson:
Enfin, quelqu'un a remarqué! :-)

Blind Fly Theater said...

Just absolutely incredible, Peter. I have yet to find (onthis site) what your profession was before retirement, but there are several possibilities: University professor, professional photographer, history teacher, museum curator... on and on. Merci Beaucoup!

Mona said...

Do I see an Indian girl there ! :)

PeterParis said...

SparkleMirror:
No, nothing like that! I'm just starting to take pleasure by learning about the city where I have lived for 35 years! :-)

Mona:
Yes, even several! At least they must be of Indian origin, but they spoke French without accent. :-)

Alain said...

La première photo semble avoir été prise en pleine campagne et non en plein Paris. Pour les 49 autres...je ne ferai pas de commentaires, pas un premier mai, trop dur !

PeterParis said...

Alain:
Tu es tout excusé; déjà que tu as compté! :-)

Roberta said...

Merci! I love your blog, and it's one of the top ones I'll be reviewing in detail when I come to Paris for the month of August, I can't wait...

Marie-Noyale said...

Peut etre encore plus que tous les autres ce post me donne l'impression d'etre a Paris...
Surtout en finissant sur la derniere mosaique je me vois tourner autour de la place....en terminant par un Vittel menthe sur la terrasse...

PeterParis said...

Roberta:
Thanks! Hope to hear from you! :-)

Marie-Noyale:
Pour moi, ça serait un verre de brouilly! :-)

Ramona said...

Great picture and interesting information! I can't wait to see Paris for the first time! Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Good Afternoon!!! peter-pho2.blogspot.com is one of the most outstanding innovative websites of its kind. I enjoy reading it every day. Keep it that way.