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January 29 2012
Montaigne, the lucky charm...
Let me share with you a real Paris insider story. This statue is the one of Montaigne, a very famous French author and public figure from the French Renaissance era (1533-1592). It's located at rue des Ecoles, right in front of the entrance of La Sorbonne university. The statue is stunning (it was made by Paul Landowski during the 20th century), but it's got a funny story too; if you look carefully at his right foot, you'll see that his shoe is exceptionally shiny... Why? Because students believe that touching it before an exam will bear them luck!
January 07 2012
Louis the XIIIth
I'm sure you will have recognized ;-) this is Louis the XIIIth - well a statue of Louis the XIIIth, as the real one dying some time ago (1643!). This statue was made by Dupaty and Cortot in 1829 in replacement for an old bronze statue from 1639 (I took this shot at Place des Vosges, BTW). If you look carefully, you will see a plane in the background (in the sky, obviously!); quite a historical hiatus, isn't?! Have a nice weekend everyone.
November 22 2011
On high horses...
If you visited Paris, here is a scene that will probably remind you of something. It shows La Samaritaine in the background - a department store that was named after a water pump located right by the Pont Neuf - and the statue of King Henri the IVth (of France, not Henry the IVth of England), a king that all French pupils remember for he is said to have made sure that all French households would eat at least a chicken a week (there was no KFC at that time LOL). The Samaritaine is currently closed and is being turned into a hotel and shops, which is a shame because from the rooftop you could enjoy one of the most beautiful views in Paris.
November 18 2011
Without a shadow of a doubt
I took this photo at the bottom of Tour Saint-Jacques, the tower they renovated recently and that I showed you several times (here, here, here and here!). You'd think this would be a statue of Saint Jacques, but... it is not. It's the one of Blaise Pascal, a famous French mathematician and philosopher who, among other things, invented in 1642, the first calculator (mechanical at that time, obviously...). Why is here there? Because he is said to have prevented the destruction of a church that was previously on these premises. BTW, around this tower, there is a little square, which apparently was the first square in Paris (1856).
November 10 2011
11/11/11!
Today is November 11, the day we celebrate the end of WWI (this year it's also a palindrome date, but that's another story). We have no more alive veterans from that war, so in theory no more reasons to continue celebrating its end, but I think it's good we still do so. 1) because it's a holiday ;-), 2) because it reminds us that about 100 years ago (and 60 if you consider WWII) there were still wars between European countries. Something that is now totally unthinkable. This, by the way, is a statue of Maréchal Foch, the very one who signed the armistice with Germany on November 11, 1918. You can see it at Champs de Mars, near Ecole Militaire.
October 18 2011
French Mothers
I don't know if you remember, a few years ago I posted a photo of a monument that I found by pure coincidence in the 13th arrondissement, dedicated to Les mères de France (French mothers). Well a few days ago, I passed by this place again... It's a stunning monument that recalls some of the soviet union ones (massive and somewhat univocal). It was erected in 1938 and served many political purposes throughout our recent history. Thus being said, the fertility rate in France amounts to 2,01 on average, which is one of the highest in the western world.
October 17 2011
A modern man
I took advantage of the last day of sun (they said it would start raining today) to take a photo of a statue of Vauban, located in the Invalides gardens. Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (his full name) used to live under the reign of Louis the 14th (to which he was an adviser) and is known for having designed almost unbreakable fortifications in many places in France (about 100). From what I read he also suggested to change the tax system, which created a big scandal at that time. What he did sounds strangely similar to what some of our today's politicians (we're are in pre-election times at the moment) suggest: protect France (not with fortifications, but with tariffs), change the tax system... Tools and methods change, but the problems to solve remain the same throughout the centuries !
August 17 2011
Icarus at La Défense
I had a meeting at La Défense this morning. La Défense - for those of you who would have forgotten - is a business district right outside Paris where mostly skyscrapers are to be found. But not only... there is also a lot or "street"(there are no actual streets over there!) art, like this one, a stunning statue of Icare (Icarus), made by Igor Mitoraj.
August 13 2011
Outside the Hôtel de Salm
I fell in love with this Sphinx! Really stunning. I came across it by chance while walking in front of the Hotel de Salm, a former Hotel particulier (a private house generally built by rich aristocrats before the 18th cetury, mostly) that is now the Musée de la Légion d'Honneur (a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802). I did not go inside, but I will. I find it very peaceful; perfect for a summer Sunday in quiet Paris ;-)
July 07 2011
Place des victoires
Hurrah! After several weeks of work, where half of the Place des Victoires was totally hidden by scaffolding, they finally freed Louis the 14th (the guy on the horse in the middle!)! This place is one of the most beautiful ones in Paris for it's not too large, yet extremely spacious - and not too busy with car traffic ;-) For those of you who are into history, you should know that it was first inaugurated in March 1686 and that the law requested that only symmetrical buildings could be erected there.
May 08 2011
Raise your arm
Let's start the week with a smile... I took this photo at Le Trocadéro and I found it funny that both the statue and the painter in the back had their arm up at the same time. Silly I know ;-) FYI this statue is the one of "Herculus taming the buffalo", by Henri Bouchard. It's located at the same level as the one where I took this shot in February 2007. Have a good week start everyone, I'm really enjoying my time off, let me tell you...
April 29 2011
Le triomphe de la république
So she said "I do", he did too, and they even kissed in front of the crowd! Now enough British Royalty, let's celebrate the republic, and more particularly, the French one ;-) Here is a close up of a huge monument called "The triumph of the republic" located at Place de la Nation, in the 12th arrondissement, made by sculptor Aimé Jules Dalou, a true republic supporter that lived between 1838 and 1902. As you can see there no more sun in Paris at the moment ;-( Have a great week-end everyone!
March 23 2011
French Engineers...
Let's see if good old French history beats brand new american clothing culture! Since you're obviously not really into A&F, let me introduce you to Marc Seguin, a French engineer who lived between 1786 and 1875 and who was the father of... 19! He's famous for building the first European suspension bridge (one in 186 he built in France!). The interesting part in this photo is that right behind the statue, you can see the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers building, a school dedicated to scientific education. A place that Marc Seguin could have attended (it was founded in 1794)...
March 15 2011
Bassin Soufflot
There is nothing I can do, but with all the terrible images that we get from Japan at the moment, I must say I find it hard to continue posting casual photos as if nothing was happening. Anyway, the show must go on as they say... This is Le Bassin Soufflot, right by the Luxembourg gardens - at place Edmond Rostand more precisely - and I passed by it many many times. Only yesterday did I notice how beautiful it is... FYI, the statue in the middle was added in 1864 and it's by Adolphe Crauk.
January 23 2011
The naked truth!
Let me introduce you to... Jean Baucher. Or rather his replica, as the real one died in 1995... He was - among many other things - the head of Le Moulin Rouge for sometime and he is now buried in the Montmartre cemetery in a grave, that, to say the least, is not exactly discrete! I thought of posting this photo because I just read Le Moulin Rouge is on the verge of being totally transformed; there will be a new glass entrance, a brasserie on the rooftop, a new, smaller cabaret spaceinside... These are the plans of Jean-Jacques Clérico, the new owner. I don't know if he already reserved a slot at the Montmartre cemetery and if he had his statue already made ;-)
November 27 2010
A Swedish moment
Don't ask me why - probably because the terribly cold wave we have in Paris at the moment comes from Northern Europe, I had lunch at the Paris Swedish Church where the Paris Swedish community had their annual Christmas market. Not surprisingly I had salmon, a few smoked reindeer slices, a bit of ginger bread and a glass of delicious "Glögg" (Mulled wine). On the way out I stepped inside the Church and admired its stunning Christ statue. Nice unusual moment - especially in Paris! (And yes, before you ask: ALL the furniture they have on site is Ikea made ;-))
October 12 2010
Liberty!
The nice weather continued today and since I had a meeting near the Eiffel Tower and that I was early I spent some time on the Île des Cygnes (Isle of the Swans), a small artificial island on the Seine at the end of which you can find the Statue of Liberty - well the French one, which was inaugurated by French President Carnot on July 4th 1889 (see what the New York Times wrote about the event on July 5th!). As you probably all know, the statue of Liberty that you can see in New York was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and has been given to the Americans by the French in 1885.
September 22 2010
Classic view
It's been a while since I've shown you a classic Paris view, so here is one... I took it from the inside of Le Jardin des Tuileries, facing the Place de la Concorde. This statue was made by Antoine Coysevox in 1699, it shows Mercury on Pegasus. And let me disclose a little secret: this one is only a cast; the real one is in Le Louvre...
August 14 2010
Joan of Arc at Saint Augustin
There are three statues of Joan of Arc in Paris - I generally show the one by the Louvre, at the entrance of rue de l'Amiral Coligny (the street that leads to the PDP picnic area!) but for once, let me show you another magnificent one. It's located Place Saint Augustin (after the Saint Augustin church that you can see in the background) and was made by sculptor Paul Dubois, and was posted there in 1896. The 3rd statue is located at Boulevard Saint Marcel; I'll show it to you the next time I go there...
August 09 2010
Roman Warrior
Yes, I know, it's another boring Paris Statue... ;-) But I took it at sunset and it gives it a little flavor that you won't see that often! FYI, it's called the Roman Warrior, it's one of the four statues that are to be found on the Pont d'Iéna (the bridge just underneath the Eiffel Tower) and it was made by Louis Daumas a sculptor we know very little about...
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