Who Fought and Died During The French Revolution and The Napoleonic Wars

I decided to take a 48-hour trip to Paris, France to take in the culture and visit historical sites that contributed to the culture of France today. During my trip, I had $2,000 to spend on food, a hotel, activities, transportation, and a souvenir. The hotel I chose to stay in was the Maison Souquet, a 5 star hotel in the Pigalle district filled with fascinating neoclassical designs. For $315 a night, I stayed in a lavish room filled with incredible interior design that really accentuated the luxury feel of the hotel. I couldn’t get over the beautiful wallpaper and gold-trimmed doorway in my room. I ate a complimentary breakfast on arrival at their restaurant. My breakfast is considered a traditional breakfast which includes Bread, Jam, Coffee, Fruit, and pain au chocolat (Chocolate bread) which has been a staple of France.

My first day was spent visiting The Arc De Triomphe which was a 19-minute drive from the Maison Souquet. The arc stands as a representation of the strength of the French peoples. It shows both human capabilities and French strength as it honors those who fought and died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. These two points in French history were pivotal events as the eventual response to the Napoleonic era was the understanding that cooperative and mutual understanding overrides individual and selfish interest when it comes to bringing wars to conclusion. The result was a new diplomatic system that focused on a balance of power and a balance of self interest which had impacted all of Europe. Today, the arc stands as a symbol of Napoleon’s reforms for France which have impacted all lives of French citizens today.

When I had first arrived, I was overwhelmed with how monumental the arc was. Standing at 162 ft tall, 150 ft wide, and 72 ft deep, The Arc De Triomphe is truly incredible. The details on the arc were all so mesmerizing as they delineated French triumphs through beautiful visuals and names of generals who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars which were etched into the arc itself. After my visit to the Arc, I felt fairly peckish so I drove by one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, Le Procope which is a 12 minute drive from The Arc De Triomphe. At the restaurant i was greeted by the pleasant smell of French Coffee. Le Procope is said to be the oldest operating cafe in Paris and was even visited by Napoleon himself (they even have his hat on display). Walking into Le Procope I could feel the history surrounding me. I had Soupe à L’oignon and Scallops. Though pricey, well worth the money as the food was delicious. $47.48 for my full meal.

Quite possibly the most absolute symbol of absolutism, my next visit was to the Palace of Versailles which has an entry fee of $16.96. The Palace of Versailles was erected by King Louis XIV from a hunting lodge built by King Louis XIII. The palace took 50 years to complete and took 36,000 workers to build. Though not completed in his lifetime, King Louis XIV had lived in this lavish palace during the construction. The whole purpose of building the palace was to show off his wealth and power which he knew could be demonstrated through both war and large buildings. His wealth is clearly demonstrated through Baroque architecture and detailing which is seen with the copious amounts of gold throughout the gardens and palace. After his death, the palace was nearly destroyed during the French Revolution and was far from finished. Most of the paintings in the palace during the French Revolution were placed in the Louvre.

Today, The Palace of Versailles stands as an amazing representation of Absolutism as the palace itself embodies the divinity and power of the kings of France. I spent most of my time in the gardens of the palace that were filled with blooming flowers and bright colors. The fountains in the garden are incredible with very intricate designs and are mostly made out of gold. Inside of the palace, I found that my favorite part of the tour was the Hall of Mirrors. It’s a beautiful long corridor containing statues dipped in gold, beautiful ceiling art, and elegant chandeliers. It really shows off the wealth of the king and those who continued the construction of the palace.

On my way back to the hotel I grabbed a bite to eat from a local restaurant. There I had bouillabaisse and some nice macaroons for dessert. The total cost of this meal was around $30.56 The total amount I spent the first day was $422 including the hotel and rental car fees. Not bad for one day in Paris. On the second and last day of my trip to Paris I started my day off with a light breakfast at the hotel again which consisted of a chocolate croissant and hot chocolate.

After my breakfast, I headed over to a perfume-making shop. I decided to take home perfume as a souvenir because perfume making has been a staple of French culture. Since medieval times France has been making perfume. It has been a staple of the country for centuries and today there are shops dedicated to the sale of perfumes all along the streets of Paris. I decided to make my own perfume at Le Studio Des Parfums. The total cost of the perfume came to $107.89 (or 95 Euros). I chose a mix of Frankincense and Sandalwood. The reason I chose to make my perfume rather than buy a designer brand is because it really ties into the culture of Paris.

After I created my scent I headed over to a cafe for some pastries. I chose a chocolate eclair and canele. The total cost was $10.50 For the last monument I visited The Louvre. Culturally, The Louvre holds paintings that are centuries old which shows the progression of France as a society. These paintings really depict the culture of what France was once. The entrance fee was only $6.79 as by the time I arrived it was on Friday past 6 so the fee was less than usual. My main interest was the baroque pieces because baroque is just a beautiful movement that shows the culture of the French aristocracy of the past. As I walked through the pieces, I indulge my senses in the amazing art all around me. One of my favorite pieces I saw was Liberty Leading the People as the details are profound in the piece.

After my visit to the museum, it was almost time to go, but first, I had to eat. I stopped by Le Chateaubriand, a famous, world-renowned restaurant My last meal cost a whopping $125.69. But it was so, so worth it. On my last day in Paris, I spent a grand total of $999.6. I feel my time in france was incredibly well spent soaking in the culture through the foods and amazing historical structures, paintings, and scenery everywhere. I would definitely love to go again someday.

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