Disney recently announced that Mickey Mouse would star in nineteen new shorts. These shorts will take Mickey and Friends across the world exploring cities from the Alps to New York City, while engaging in a “silly situation.” The first short “Croissant de Triomphe,” which is currently available on disney.com, takes Mickey on an adventure through the streets of Paris. Below, we explore some of the sites that Mickey visited.
1. Eiffel Tower
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, the 1889 World’s Fair has one lasting legacy, the Eiffel Tower. Originally considered to be an eyesore, it is now the most visited paid monument in the world. It was named after its designer and engineer Gustave Eiffel and is visible in the upper left of the opening scene. [Find out some Untapped secrets of the Eiffel Tower].
2. Pont Alexandre III, Petit Palais, and Grand Palais
Mickey attempts to navigate through traffic on the Pont Alexandre III. It was named after Tsar Alexander III, because of the Franco-Russian Alliance. His son Nicholas II laid the foundation stone in October 1896 and it was inaugurated in 1900 at the World’s Fair. It is the most ornate bridge to span the Seine. In the background on the left side is the Grand Palais, which was created for the 1900 World’s Fair. It recently restored and is now the home to rotating exhibits in its main hall and a science museum as well. The interior of the main hall was inspired by the crystal palace in London. It is slightly difficult to discern, and it appears that Disney took some artistic liberties, but on the upper right should be the Petit Palais. The Petit Palais, was also built for the 1900 World’s Fair. It now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris).
In a later scene, Mickey returns to the bridge while escaping the police:
3. Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame’s cornerstone was laid in 1163, though it wasn’t completed until 1345. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the cathedral was rededicated to the Cult of Reason, and then to the Cult of the Supreme Being. During this time, many of the treasures of the cathedral were either destroyed or plundered.
The enormous popularity of Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame spurred France’s nascent historical preservation movement and strongly encouraged Gothic revival architecture. Ultimately it led to major renovations at Notre-Dame in the 19th century led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Much of the cathedral’s present appearance is a result of this renovation. Mickey drives across the roof of the church while the gargoyles cheer him on.
4. Porte Saint Denis
The Porte Saint-Denis is a triumphal arch inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome. It is pierced by a large central arch and formerly by two much smaller flanking pedestrian openings in the pedestals, now closed off. It was designed at the order of Louis XIV in honor of his victories on the Rhine and in Franche-Comté. Built in 1672 and paid for by the city of Paris, it replaced a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V in the 14th century. It served as the inspiration for the entrance ramp to New York City’s Manhattan Bridge and as another vehicle through which Mickey can show off his fanciful driving skills.
5. The Pantheon
The Pantheon is only shown for a second in the film as Mickey is running from the police, but the combination of its dome and Neoclassical transept make it a recognizable landmark. Notable people buried in The Pantheon include Marie Curie, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Rousseau, Marat and Emilie Zola.
6. The Carousels of Paris
This carousel is likely simply a representation of the familiar fixture in Paris. Previously Untapped Cities rounded up six beautiful carousels in the city of Paris.
7. Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge, or the red windmill, opened as a cabaret in 1889 and is still in business today. Toulouse-Lautrec, is well known for his advertising posters for the Moulin Rouge and it was made (in)famous by the Baz Luhrmann (Nicole Kidman/Ewan McGregor) film. Mickey can’t help but go for a ride on its sails.
