II.3.5. LOUIS'S ARC LOOMS OVER THE ROUTE

IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF YOU, A MONUMENT THAT IS SUPERB AND TRAGIC

Enthralled by a victorious campaign, Louis XIV has the 14th-century rampart torn down. The Boulevards that replace them become a shortcut to Versailles...

(Campaign 1672, rampart demolished 1674)

Plan of Paris toward 1640 / zoom

Then he orders this arc on the site of the Saint-Denis gate:

Erasing the protection of ramparts

 that are universally taken for granted 

shouts that attacking the city is unthinkable,

trumpeting French domination.

To be continued.

End of this mini-section.

*     *     *

Next,

II.3.6.

Toward the horizon