Finished 9th February 2014

 600 Pieces

Place de la Concorde, Paris (Photo by M.Mehlig)

48° 51′ 56″ N, 2° 19′ 16″ E

The jigsaw puzzle shows one of the two huge fountains (completed 1840). They were designed by Hittorf and symbolize the Ocean and the Rivers of France as well as the power of France ruling the Seas. 

In the background stands the illuminated Obelisk of Luxor (age 13th c. BC). It was given to france as a present after Mr. Champollion decrypted the Rosetta Stone and the ancient egyptian hieroglyphs.

 

 The picture must have been taken before 1998. 

Since 1998 the Obelisk bears a 4-metre gilded brasstop donated by Pierre Bergé, longtime companion of worldfamous Yves Saint Laurent (died 2008).

This is a photo I took back in 1987 while visiting Paris during a school excursion: