The Greenwich Meridian's Forgotten Rival

If you've ever been to the Louvre, you may have stumbled across a small disc bearing the word "Arago" and the letters "N" and "S" - or in other words, the exact location of the old Paris Meridian. But what's the story there? How close did Paris ever get to becoming THE meridian? And why did we end up with Greenwich instead? I decided to investigate...

ALSO STARRING
Jay Foreman -    / @jayforeman  

Walking route here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jyGGXXu1u2Nvd...
(Please note: the observatory is normally closed to the public, I was very lucky to be allowed inside)

INSTA -   / the.tim.traveller  
TWIT -   / thetimtraveller  
FACE -   / thetimtraveller  

IMAGE CREDITS
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...