II.3.3.e. AN ARC OF TRIUMPH LOOMS OVER THE ROUTE

CONTINUE TOWARD A MONUMENT THAT IS SUPERB AND TRAGIC

Enthralled by a victorious campaign, Louis XIV tore down the 14th-century rampart, allowing the Boulevards' shortcut to Versailles...

(Campaign 1672, rampart demolished 1674)

Plan of Paris toward 1640 / zoom

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

 

Carolyn Ristau

By erasing a protection that elsewhere

 was taken for granted 

it stated that attacking the city was unthinkable,

trumpeting French domination.

To be continued.

End of this mini-section.

*     *     *

Next,

II.3.3.f.

Toward the horizon