Museum and Roden gallery

Lots planned for today – war museum and the Roden gallery, both behind the Eiffel Tower. First up we visited the Musse de l’Armee, basically the war museum. It is a huge complex which has been, since being built in about 1900, a museum as well as accommodation for returned soldiers. It has collections dating back 500 years right up to current conflicts. It contains two chapels for the returned soldiers and has the tombs of significant figures in French history, including the tomb of Napoleon. All displays were very interesting, a bit like the Australian War Memorial.

Just down the street is the Roden gallery. Pam has been very interested in Roden since she fell in love with the painting by Klimt ‘The Kiss’. Roden completed the original sculpture in the 1880s. Due to its popularity, he made many more and incorporated these sculptures into other scenes. Also at the museum is ‘The Thinker’, a famous sculpture included in the ‘Gates of Hell’ sculpture. Lots of copies were made from the cast, just as copies of ‘The Kiss’ was made.

There are many works at the museum and we really enjoyed the beautiful gardens and relax atmosphere at the gallery. Slow walk to the Metro and home for tea.