The monument to honor the Gendarmerie, a military body with police duties, was completed in 1941 but only inaugurated after the war in 1946. The lady in the middle, with her sword, symbolises France. She is just over 13 ft tall which should give you an idea of the size of the monument. The other characters represent gendarmes through the ages, from the days of king Louis the 15th to the 20th century. It stands huge and massive in the middle of what is now a roundabout in the north of the city. The church spire that is visible in the middle is located in the contiguous city of Le Chesnay. Happy Theme Day and Click here to view thumbnails for all participants !-----------------------------
Le monument de la Place de la Loi dans la partie nord de la ville honore la Gendarmerie. Il a été achevé en 1941 mais fut inauguré seulement après la libération, en 1946. La femme munie d'un glaive, au milieu, symbolise la France. Cette femme mesure 4 mètres, ce qui vous donnera une idée de la taille de ce monument... monumental. Les autres statues représentent ce corps militaire au travers des âges, de Louis XV au XXè siècle. L'église, juste visible au milieu, se trouve sur la commune adjacente du Chesnay. Bonne journée à thème !
We copied your Gendarmerie with our Carabinieri.
ReplyDeleteA quite sober monument, like a modern triumphal arch without arch. Both images are beautiful, but I like more the first one with the steeple in background.
incroyable cette ville un vrai musée; et puis faire cela dans un temps que la France étais occuper chapeau.
ReplyDeleteUn tres grand monument bien mis en valeur par la 1ere photo meme si je prefere la photo de detail.
ReplyDeletePour le metro il me semble que c'est Chatelet mais ca ressemble a Montparnasse :)
Big and beautiful, merci!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is big. And impressive. And I appreciated your commentary.
ReplyDeleteBIG monument and BIG statutes of BIG important person! BIG idea for theme day! Tres bien fait!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of France is big. It may not have the largest area or population, but it possesses a truly grand concept.
ReplyDeleteI have to apologize for irregular comments. These days are frantic, as I try to clear all of my work before we leave on our big trip Thursday.
Interesting that it was completed during German occupation in 1941. French patriotism or a salute to militarism?
ReplyDeleteIt's true. Big is beautiful. Powerful, as well. Great theme day photo.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful and moving and right, it's big - as it should be.
ReplyDeletea l'ouverture de ton bog, j'ai cru voir deux immenses tours...en effet il doit etre vraiment impressionnant
ReplyDeleteVery big, yes. The ideas in the inscription are big too.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. That monument is 'big' in many different ways. MB
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you wrote how big the middle sculpture is to give us a sense of its immensity. I like seeing the different uniforms through the ages!
ReplyDeleteI really like the composition with the church in the background.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really nice picture and a very informative post. I really like big monuments and you photographed this one very well with the church in the background. I had never heard of Gendarmerie but I think I've seen some.
ReplyDeleteSeriously big!
ReplyDeleteAhh, a grand monument for today. Well done and thoughtful too!
ReplyDeleteBIG in size - and in history. Thank you for the photo and the commentary.
ReplyDeleteTon choix représente plusieurs aspects de "big". J’aime les photos et l’histoire.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for the theme, Ciel. It's a grand monument and greater still in honoring the courage and ideals of those who served in that span of history. Excellent commentary too.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's big. Quite imposing.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the kind of art I associate with Versailles, so it was interesting to see it. I like the tour through historical fashions.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for your theme day. It's a monumental monument and great photos. Thanks for the info along with the pictures.
ReplyDeleteHeureusement que l'ensemble n'est pas en bronze il aurait été coulé pour l'effort de guerre (je ne crois pas que pour la WW2 on utilisait encore des canons ?)
ReplyDeleteMonumental, on ne peut le nier. Et éducatif :
Les gendarmes a travers les âges.... Je me demande s'il existe un musée de la gendarmerie.
I love the symmetry you've achieved here between the two pillars and the statue/steeple. Very nice photograph and a good BIG entry.
ReplyDeleteJe me demande qui etait le modele du visage de France?
ReplyDeleteUn beau et Big monument.
The monument really looks spectacular, the sculptures and the U form is amazing, great choice and thanks a lot for your thought. Greetings from MC.
ReplyDeleteYep, 13 feet tall is BIG! and the monument rises way above that.
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