The Arago Medallions
 Medaillon Arago 97A by Wikimedia Commons
The Paris Meridian line once rivaled the Greenwich Meridian in London as the prime Meridian of the world. Though the Greenwich line was the one recognized as the world meridian line, the Paris Meridian served a significant role in the lives of the French as the line that belted the center of the Earth. It was developed by French Astronomer François Arago and ran through the Paris Observatory.
In 1994, local artist Jan Dibbets was commissioned to honor Arago by creating a memorial to him. The design that Dibbets came up with was simple: a line of small medallions (12 cm in diameter) placed in the ground along the Paris Meridian. Each medallion says the word Arago with a N and S pointer on it. There are 135 of these medallions stuck into the ground throughout the magnificent city of Paris. Their purpose is to show the Paris Meridian Time, but they are also an attraction that many overlook. Stop by some of our other hidden destinations as you tally up all 135 of these markers throughout Paris. |
Take Paris Home With These Great Amazon Products.      |
