As the Summer Olympics unfolds in stadiums and arenas, one event will be held along a truly iconic route - the Olympic marathon. The path, same as the one that women in the 18th century took to the King Louis XVI’s palace demanding reforms, is a powerful reminder of the March of Versailles, a key moment from the French Revolution. Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024 promises to ‘revolutionise’ the Games’ experience On 5 and 6 October 1789, a large group of women, shopkeepers, and workers from Paris gathered at the Hôtel de Ville to demand bread and arms.
Joined by men, between 6,000 and 7,000 Parisians marched from Paris to Versailles to bring King Louis XVI back to the Tuileries, an imperial palace in Paris. This historic march led to Louis XVI agreeing to ratify the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The 42km-long marathon route for the Paris Olympics, which connects the modern event with a pivotal moment in history, is a tribute to this march.
The marathon, which starts at Hôtel de Ville, will take you through several historic monuments, iconic parks, forests, and Palace of Versailles, spread across nine districts in the Île-de-France region. Start - Hôtel de Ville The Olympic marathon begins in the Paris City Hall’s square, where you stand. The Hôtel de Ville was built between the 16th and 17th centuries, with a façade stretching 143 metres.
Hôtel de Ville’s walls have seen some of the country’s pivotal political moments..