From the first days of the foundation of the Ecole Militaire in 1751 by Louis XV, the area in front of the boys’ school, intended for military parades, has become an iconic place for Parisians. All significant events in the history of France took place here: the adoption of the first French constitution and the celebration of national patriotic holidays. The tragic events of the civil uprising during the French Revolution confirmed the place’s name, Champ de Mars, in honor of the ancient god of war, Mars. From this place, the famous French inventor of the balloon, Jacques Alexandre Cesar Charles, rose for his first air journey. A year later, another inventor, aviation pioneer Jean-Pierre François Blanchard tried not just to take off but to fly with a sail and oars as controllers. Later, for a quarter of a century, noblemen conducted horse races on the field. At the end of the 19th century, they began to hold world fairs. For one of those, the famous Eiffel Tower at the end of the field was erected.

Today, the legendary Champ de Mars, with an area of 240,000 square meters, is the most beautiful public green space, a site for celebrations, music and theater festivals, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. The citizens and guests of the city meet for family and romantic picnics on its lovely green lawns in the shade of age-old trees and company of bronze statues. Friendly ponies and cheerful puppeteers take charge of small children. Their daytime performances give way to a fantastic evening show of thousands of twinkling lights illuminating the Eiffel Tower. The old Ecole Militaire is still operating: here, students learn new military skills, and officers of all military branches of the highest military academy are trained. At the entrance, they are greeted by the majestic equestrian statue of French general Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre.