a new French revolution?

Grand Roue de Paris (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Will this be a permanent landmark in Paris? Apparently not, which is a good thing indeed! The Grand Roue (big wheel) was installed at a Christmas Market last winter at the Place de la Concorde at the foot of the Champs-Élysées. Open since November 17, 2017, it will occupy this spot until May 18, 2018.

Sixty-five meters tall (213 feet), you can take your turn for 12€ (10€ for seniors, 6€ for children under ten). Open from 11 a.m. until midnight, a ticket buys you two complete revolutions of the wheel and an unique view of the center of Paris. The ferris wheel is a Paris institution, going back to the turn of the twentieth century when a grand roue 100 meters tall was constructed for that year's Exposition Universelle.

Visually interesting as it may be, the grand roue is definitely out of place. The Place de la Concorde is an historic square in the center of Paris. Among other things, the large square was the site of the guillotine used for the execution of Marie Antoinette and other members of the French aristocracy. In the picture above, it serves as a backdrop for the Obelisk of Luxor.

copyright  (c)  2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit our website.