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#.

On the Ile de la Cité Island, King of France Saint-Louis had a magnificent chapel built as part of his palace to house Christ's Holy Relics including the Crown of Thorns The Saint Chapelle is famous for its beauty and 13th century stained glass windows.

The Conciergerie witnessed the days when the king was living on the island and boasts an enormous gothic hall. During the French Revolution it was turned into a prison for those waiting to be guillotined and it was here that the Queen Marie-Antoinette spent her last days.

With its history, myth and mystique, Rue Mouffetard is one of the oldest streets in Paris, a remnant of a roman road going to Rome via Lyon. The street retains a village atmosphere, with its famous picturesque open market held on the lower part. At the top end it leads into Place de la Contrescarpe which was made famous by Ernest Hemingway in his book about life in Paris. 'A Moveable Feast'. Place de la Contrescarpe was not created until 1852 but has been a busy junction since time memorable, the 'village' square of the neighbourhood, and the haunt of writers, artists and students.

The origin of the name Mouffetard remains unresolved. One theory is that it originates from an old 18th-century French word, mofette, meaning a noxious smell. At that time, tanners and tripe butchers working in the area used the river Bievre - itself long built over - as a sewer. Two golden oxen carved in bas-relief at #6, remain as a testament to these ancient trades. Before the 15th century, the borough of Sainte-Medard took pride in its vineyards and bucolic surroundings, but when the butchers, dyers and tanners took over, the presence of hot-tempered butchers and rowdy youths inebriated with cheap wine, brawls and scuffles were the daily and nightly lot of the area. In the early 18th century the authorities sensibly stationed the "gardes francaises" at # 36. The "garde republicaine" is now stationed at #61 which was a humble convent, built in the middle of the 17th century. By the early 18th century it was threatened with ruin and was rescued by the Madame de Maintenon.

In 1922 Hemingway and his young bride, Hadley, lived nearby at #74 rue Cardinal-Lemoine. Hemingway also rented a room to work in at #39 rue Descartes, he claimed it was the one in which Verlaine had died. From June to October 1921 James Joyce lived at #71, across the street where he finished writing "Ulysses". # 39 Rue Descartes is where the celebrated symbolist poet Paul Verlaine lived until his death in 1896. He is buried in the church Saint-Etienne du Mont, to 'rest forever' in the same section of Paris where his career in both literature and debauchery began - the Latin Quarter.

Notre Dame

A reading of its amazing "stone comic strip" sculptures, and exploration of very curious and still unsolved mysteries - some concerning Masonic secrets - surrounding the Grand Old Lady of Paris, begun in 1163.

 

Medieval

Including the famous St. Germain des Prés Abbey (built, destroyed and rebuilt from the 6th to 19th centuries),the 13th century Cordeliers monastery refectory, and the 15th century Cluny abbots' "townhouse"- now marvelous museum on the Middle Ages - , Place Maubert where a 16th century printer was burnt alive for heresy for having re-translated one of Plato's Dialogues, and the Bernardins Monastery refectory dating from the 13th century.

 

The "Grand Century on Ile St. Louis "

An intimate round-island look at the architecture and histories of some of Paris's most impressive 17th century mansions, including one where Chopin played for and woo-ed George Sand, not forgetting the home for many years of From Here to Eternity author James Joyce.

 

Cradle of the Capital: Ile de la Cite

A sampling of vestiges and major events that have shaped the history of Paris, and France, for 2,300 years of uninterrupted habitation, such as: the Royal Palace dating from the 13th century, the Exchange Bridge which gave birth in the 14th century to the Sunday bird market still extant, and the New bridge (inaugurated in 1607) with a statue of King Henry IV surrounded by enigma .

Heart of the Latin Quarter

Rue de la Huchette: Heart of the Latin Quarter

habitation, such as: the Royal Palace dating from the 13thcentury, the Exchange Bridge which gave birth in the 14thcentury to the Sunday bird market still extant, and the New bridge (inaugurated in 1607) with a statue of King Henry IV surrounded by enigma .

In Search of Hemingway on rue Mouffetard

A highway leaving Paris for Rome 2,000 years ago, Rue Mouffetard still boasts a street market that has functioned since about 1350, not to forget a public fountain erected by Marie de Medici, and church that briefly hosted a convulsionist sect (“barkers,” “meowers,” “jumpers,” etc.) in the 1700s. This tour also takes in the house where Ernest Hemingway lived in the 1930s and segments of the Medieval city rampart.