|
Notre-Dame de Paris
The Cathedral
of Notre Dame de Paris dates back to 1163 but was not
completed until 1345. It is one of the masterpieces of Gothic art
in Western Europe. Its facade, the soaring Gothic ribbed vaulting,
its huge light-filled interior and awe-inspiring stained glass windows
are magnificent artistic achievements. The square in front of the
Cathedral is called the Place du Parvis. In the center is a plaque
from which all road distances in France are measured. Of course,
this is the setting for Victor Hugo’s ‘The Hunchback of
Notre Dame’.
Ile St-Louis
Ile St-Louis with its aristocratic town houses, courtyards, and
antique shops is home to dozens of 17th century mansions and 6,000
lucky ‘louisiens’, its permanent residents. Voltaire found
it "the second best" address in all the world, citing
the straits of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia as number
one. Berthillon the famous and popular ice-cream store is located
at 31 Rue St-Louis-en-l’Ile.
The Arab Institute
Designed by Jean Nouvelle to resemble the boats that carried Algerians,
Moroccan and Tunisian immigrants to France. The
institute has a unique shutter-like window system which opens
and closes automatically triggered by the sun. There is a Moroccan
restaurant on the roof and a superb view over Paris from the rooftop
terrace.
The Pantheon
Constructed by Louis XV in 1744 in gratitude for recovering from gout,
this massive temple to the great men of France houses the bodies of
Voltaire, Rousseau, Mirabeau, Marat, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, and
Jean Moulin (hero of the French Resistance during WWII).
Musee de Cluny
Was once a medieval monastery, built on the ruins of a vast third-century
Roman bathhouse. Today, it is a museum
of medieval antiquities. The remains of the bathhouse
can be seen just behind the museum.
Place St. Michel
Place St-Michel is the busiest spot in the Latin Quarter with
its pink marble fountain, built in 1860, surrounded by cafes facing
the Seine and Notre Dame. The Paris Commune of 1871 began here,
as did the student uprising of 1968.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg is the most loved park in Paris. It is large
and has fountains, flowers, statues, tennis courts, concerts in
the summer and on Sunday, Tai Chi. Within the park is located the
Palais du Luxembourg, home to the French Senate. Next to the senate
is the Musee du Luxembourg, which often has art exhibitions. Nearby
on rue de Fleurus lived Gertrude Stein and her companion Alice B.
Tokas who opened their home to many famous expatriates, writers
and artists, including Hemingway and Picasso.
Continued...
|
