Champ de Mars

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View southeast from the top level of the Eiffel Tower, down the Champ de Mars, with the Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) in the distance. The Ecole Militaire is one third down from the top of the picture

The Champ de Mars is a large public green-space in Paris, France, located in the 7th arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast. The name means "Field of Mars", from Mars the Roman god of war, because it was originally used for military training. It was named after the Campus Martius of Rome.

[edit] Champs de Mars Massacre (French Revolution)

During the French Revolution, the Champ de Mars was the setting of the Fête de la Fédération, on the 14 July 1790. It was also the setting of a massacre on July 17, 1791, when a crowd collected to draft a petition seeking the removal of King Louis XVI. This happened just days after the second anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. Soldiers under the command of the Jean-Sylvain Bailly opened fire, killing about 50 people; whereas, General Lafayette had vainly tried to disperse the crowd.

The nearest Metro station is Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel.

[edit] Montreal

The Champ-de-Mars is also a public park in Montreal, in front of the City Hall. Formerly a military parade ground, the park contains remnants of Montreal's fortifications.

[edit] Mauritius

The Champs de Mars is also a race-course on the island of Mauritius. It is located close to the centre of the capital, Port LouisThe Mauritius Turf Club was founded in 1812. On the 25th June of the same year, the Champ de Mars racecourse was inaugurated and, on that day, was held the first organised race meeting in the history of the island. Today, the M.T.C rightly prides itself as being the oldest horse-racing club in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second oldest in the world.

Undeniably, racing is the most popular sport on the island and a high level of professionalism has been attained in the organisation of races over the last decades, thereby boosting competition levels, with a view to preserving the unique electrifying ambiance prevailing on racedays at The Champ de Mars.