The Grand Palace seen from the sky, witness of an era gone

Paris (AFP)

Become the temple of the great exhibitions, the Grand Palais, which celebrates next year its 120 years, is the witness of a disappeared era, that of the Universal Exposition of 1900, the Third Republic triumphant and confidence in progress.

Agence France-Presse is continuing its tour of Paris from the sky, directed by Eric Feferberg, which began with the Trocadero, the Elysée, the City Hall and Notre-Dame, before and after the fire that ravaged the cathedral on April 15th.

From dawn to dusk, this aerial walk, with two drones, begins on the majestic Alexandre III bridge, overhung by La Renommée au Combat, a gilded bronze statue of Pierre Granet showing a clear sword woman holding a winged horse.

The drones are approaching the Grand Palais, marrying its roundness. At the corner, near the subway, the slender statue of General de Gaulle by Jean Cardot seems to start.

We fly over the dome surmounted by a tricolor flag and the immense and glittering glass vault. A bronze quadriga showing Triumphant Harmony of Discord stands guard.

The film, shot for eight days in June / July, makes a brief tour of the surroundings, showing a haven of trees, on this radiant summer day, and the Petit Palais, little brother of the Grand, finesse, behind which the banks of the Seine can be seen.

Then night falls, and the canopy absorbs the bluish color of the sky. The film is accompanied by "Secrets undercovered 5", a music by Luke Richards.

Four architects, Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet, Albert-Félix-Théophile Thomas and Charles Girault, were chosen to build this huge building for the World Fair from April 15 to November 12, 1900, in place of the vast Palais de l ' Industry of 1855.

Today a new renovation begins: it provides for the creation of a "Palace Street" crossing the foundations of the huge building that will link the Great Nave to the Palace of Discovery.

The renovated Grand Palais must also be refurbished to host the fencing events at the 2024 Olympic Games.

From 2021 until 2024, an ephemeral Grand Palais on the Champ-de-Mars will host events held in the nave, under the majestic glass roof: FIAC, Paris Photo, Paris Art, Saut Hermes, Chanel fashion shows etc.

© 2019 AFP