Palmyra before…

For three weeks (until January 9), two large rooms of Grand Palais are devoted to Syrian and Iraki monuments which were partly or totally destroyed by Daech. Called « Eternal sites from Bamiyan to Palmyra », the exhibition shows films and photographs of these beautiful spots, including Krak des Chevaliers and the Damascus mosque.

Films of the ruins on the sites are incredibly moving

I was lucky enough to travel to Syria in 2004 and remember well the sunset over Palmyra. It was a blessed moment in time. On Sunday, it was taken back by Daech again and this magical site might never be the same again.

And so was our visit to the Damascus mosque. These Unesco world Heritage sites live again for a short time on the walls of Grand Palais and what is interesting is the crowd who visits. Everyone is concerned with the Middle East and there is a feeling of pilgrimage and emotion in the semi darkness of the space. Audio messages by a Syrian choreographer, an Iraqi designer and a Lebanese museum curator who grew up there are incredibly moving.

The Damascus mosque was built in 705-15 when the city was the capital of the Islamic world

A drone used by Iconem, a Paris based company specialised in safeguarding culture, films the temples, the fort, the erased city. This little show organised by the Louvre who lent a few important statues, is free. (Grand Palais)