The Champ-de-Mars reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Champ-de-Mars

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View of Champ de Mars from the top of the Eiffel TowerEnlarge

View of Champ de Mars from the top of the Eiffel Tower

The Champ-de-Mars is a vast public area located between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire in Paris, France. Its name means "Field of Mars", from the Roman god of war, because it used to be used for military training.

The Champ-de-Mars formed the setting of a massacre during the French Revolution on July 17, 1791. When a crowd collected to draft a petition seeking the removal of King Louis XVI, soldiers under the command of the Marquis de la Fayette opened fire, killing about 50 persons.