For the views

One of our great surprises in Paris was the fact that these days you can now get into La Madeleine in a wheelchair. This just really shows what can be done to improve access.

For those who don’t know the building, the entrance is at the top of flight of steps. It was built in Napoleonic times when no thought was given to wheelchair access. However, now they’ve managed to install a lift at one side without destroying the feel of the building. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the small blue wheelchair sign you wouldn’t even realise you can get in.

La Madeleine with its flight of steps

With great excitement we went up & into the church. The church itself was a great disappointment, though admittedly with a bit of a clean-up & freshen-up of the artworks it would be more interesting. However we did feel mounting to the entrance was worth it for the view along the Rue Royale to the Place de la Concorde.

From La Madeleine along the Rue Royale to the Place de la Concorde & the National Assembly beyond

Thinking about this made me realise one of the great things about Paris is so many very straight streets lead to a focal point of interest. I think of the Champs Elysées with the Arc de Triomphe at one end & the Place de la Concorde & the Arc de Carrousel in the forecourt of the Louvre.

 

Arc de Trimomphe from the Place de la Concorde

Same view at night

Or there’s the view up the Avenue de l’Opéra to the Opera House.

The Opera House

Or the Champs de Mars to the Eiffel Tower, or the Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni to Les Invalides,

Les Invalides along the Avenue du Marechal Gallieni

or even across the Pont de la Concorde to the National Assembly. We Brits just never seem to have built cities & towns in this way. The Fox pointed out Haussmann designed the city deliberately like this – the straight streets helped with riot control. Whatever the reason it does give you interesting vistas, marvels to wonder at.