La Tour de l’Horloge – The Clock Tower
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Paris, From the Mona Lisa to the Notre-Dame Cathedral
You’re standing before the Clock Tower of the Palais de la Cité. This stunning clock with its blue backdrop was the very first clock of Paris! The belfry was originally built as a watchtower to protect the palace where the kings of France lived. This massive, square tower is 47 meters high and is topped by a small pavilion, itself topped by a bell tower. In 1370, it was fitted with the first public clock created by Henry de Vic. The dial was then completely rebuilt under the reign of Henry III. The clock is framed by two statues depicting law and justice, and it’s decorated with two plaques bearing inscriptions in Latin. The lower one reads, and I quote: “This machine, which divides the hours into twelve equal parts, teaches us to protect Justice and defend the laws.” The clock was restored in 2011 based on the oldest archival documents found, and now sports a blue background dotted with fleurs-de-lys – the symbol of French royalty.
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