French Crown Jewels in the Galerie d'Apollon

The French Crown Jewels displayed in the Galerie d’Apollon at the Louvre Museum in Paris are among the most dazzling reminders of France’s royal past. They glitter beneath gilded ceilings once meant to glorify kings, yet today they belong to the people - symbols of artistry, power, and the sweeping drama of French history.

The Galerie d’Apollon itself feels like a jewel box. Built in the 17th century under the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, it was designed to embody divine light and royal grandeur. The architect Louis Le Vau began the work, while Charles Le Brun, the king’s chief painter, filled the vaulted ceiling and arches with mythological imagery celebrating Apollo, the god of the sun and the arts. 

Later, in the 19th century, Eugène Delacroix added the spectacular painting Apollo Slaying the Python, which crowns the gallery today. Every inch of the space glows with gold and colour, reflecting both sunlight and the radiance of the jewels within it. It is no wonder that this room, once a royal showcase, became the perfect home for France’s surviving Crown Jewels.

The story of these jewels begins with King François I in 1530, who declared that certain treasures should belong not to the monarch personally but to the French state. 

This decision established the tradition of the Crown Jewels of France, meant to represent the continuity of the monarchy. Over the centuries, kings and queens added to the collection: diamonds, pearls, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires gathered from across the world. These were not just ornaments - they were instruments of image and influence, worn at coronations, weddings, and state ceremonies to project wealth and divine right.

Among the most celebrated of these gems is the Regent Diamond, discovered in India and purchased for the French crown in 1717. Its 140 carats of flawless brilliance made it one of the most famous diamonds in the world. It has graced royal crowns, the hilt of Napoleon Bonaparte’s sword, and even the admiration of jewelers centuries later. 

Another storied stone, the Sancy Diamond, has a pale yellow hue and a mysterious past, having passed through the hands of European princes before joining the French royal treasury. The collection also includes the Côte de Bretagne, a striking red spinel carved into the form of a dragon, said to have once belonged to Anne of Brittany.

During the French Revolution, the jewels were seized as property of the nation. In 1792, thieves broke into the royal treasury and made off with much of the collection in a daring heist. Some of the treasures were later recovered, but others vanished into private collections, never to be seen again. Decades later, under the Third Republic, the government decided to auction off most of what remained. In 1887, the bulk of the jewels were sold to private buyers, in an effort to erase the last symbols of monarchy. It was a controversial move that many historians still regret.

Fortunately, a few of the most important pieces were saved for the nation. These survivors now sparkle in the Galerie d’Apollon, displayed in glass cases beneath the gilded vaults that once echoed with royal footsteps. The Regent Diamond still catches the light like a captive sun. The Sancy sits beside it, glowing softly under the glass. The Côte de Bretagne spinel gleams crimson, a relic of the Renaissance. Nearby, the emerald and sapphire parures of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, showcase the elegance of 19th-century design.

To stand in the Galerie d’Apollon today is to feel the weight of centuries compressed into a single shimmering space. The jewels that once symbolized royal power now embody something larger - the artistry and enduring heritage of France. Their beauty, once meant to awe subjects and foreign courts, now belongs to everyone. Visitors move quietly through the gallery, faces lit by the reflections of diamonds and gold leaf, feeling the same mixture of wonder and reverence that once surrounded the kings and queens of France.

Riding the Eurostar: A Journey From Paris to London

Taking the Eurostar from Paris to London is one of the most convenient and comfortable ways to travel between these two major European capitals. The Eurostar is a high-speed train that connects Gare du Nord station in Paris, France with London St Pancras International in the United Kingdom, covering the distance in just over two hours. 

The journey is smooth and scenic, with the highlight being the Channel Tunnel (or “Chunnel”), a 31-mile tunnel beneath the English Channel. The train travels through the tunnel for about 20 minutes, emerging in the English countryside before continuing to London. 

Eurostar trains are modern, clean, and well-equipped with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, luggage storage, and comfortable seating. Travelers can choose from Standard, Standard Premier, or Business Premier classes, depending on their preferences and budget. Standard Premier offers more spacious seating and a light meal, while Business Premier provides added perks like lounge access and flexible ticket options. 

The convenience of city center travel makes Eurostar particularly attractive. There’s no need to travel to outlying airports or go through long security lines. Instead, passengers need to check in just 30 to 60 minutes before departure. Customs and immigration checks for both the UK and Schengen zones are completed at the departure station, making arrival in London hassle-free. 

Tickets can be booked in advance online, often at better prices. It’s also an environmentally friendly choice, with Eurostar claiming up to 90% less carbon emissions than a short-haul flight. 

Whether you're traveling for business, a weekend getaway, or exploring Europe, the Eurostar offers a fast, efficient, and enjoyable way to travel from Paris to London—turning what was once a complex international journey into a seamless and memorable experience.

Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France

The Louvre Pyramid is a modern architectural masterpiece that stands at the center of the Cour Napoléon courtyard of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, the glass and metal pyramid was inaugurated in 1989 and serves as the main entrance to the world-renowned museum.

Composed of 673 glass panes, the pyramid rises to a height of 21.6 meters (about 71 feet) and forms a striking contrast to the classical architecture of the historic Louvre Palace. The structure is both functional and symbolic, representing the merging of old and new. Beneath the pyramid lies a large subterranean lobby that connects the museum’s three main wings—Denon, Sully, and Richelieu—streamlining visitor access and circulation.

When it was first proposed, the design was controversial. 

Many critics felt that the modernist style clashed with the Renaissance and Baroque elements of the surrounding buildings. However, over time, the Louvre Pyramid has become an iconic symbol of Paris, admired for its bold vision and elegant simplicity.

The pyramid also has deeper symbolic meaning. Its geometric form references ancient Egyptian pyramids, a nod to the Louvre’s extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities. The transparency of the glass panels allows natural light to filter into the underground lobby, creating a bright and welcoming space that enhances the visitor experience.

Today, the Louvre Pyramid is not just a gateway to the world's most visited art museum, but also a cultural icon in its own right. It has been featured in numerous films, books, and artworks, and is a popular spot for tourists to photograph. The pyramid exemplifies how contemporary design can enhance historic spaces, blending innovation with tradition in one of the most celebrated cultural sites in the world.