Gare de Chartres

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Gare de Chartres (Chartres station)
Place Pierre Semard
Chartres, July 2002

Hôtel des Postes de Chartres

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Hôtel des Postes de Chartres
Rue du Général-Kœnig / boulevard Maurice-Viollette
Chartres, July 2002

“The Hôtel des Postes is a former Post Office located in Chartres, French department of Eure-et-Loir, at the corner of Boulevard Maurice-Viollette and Rue du Général-Koenig. The building now houses the ‘Apostrophe’ media library in Chartres. The architect of the building was Raoul Brandon, born in 1878 in the town of Lucé located on the western edge of Chartres. Its construction lasted five years, from 1923 to 1928. The mosaics are the work of Édouard Blin. The old murals adorning the room receiving the public were made in 1929 by Pierre Vaillant (1878-1939), son of Charles Émile Vaillant, architect of the department of Eure-et-Loir who had Raoul Brandon as a student. They represent three large harvest scenes from Beauce , as well as illustrations of monuments in the department, such as the castles of Frazé and Anet. These works were destroyed in the 1970s. The facades and roofs were listed as historical monuments in 1994. In 2007, after a complete renovation of the interior of the building by Paul Chemetov, the building received its new function as the media library of the city of Chartres. In 2016 the building received the ‘Patrimoine du XXe siècle’ label from the Ministry of Culture.” (Hôtel des Postes de Chartres, Wikipedia)

Cathedral from above

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Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres
Cloître Notre Dame
Chartres, July 2002

Angel holding a sundial

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Angel holding a sundial (copy)
South side of the south tower of west façade
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres
Cloître Notre Dame
Chartres, July 2002

Les Croisés

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“Les Croisés” by Rachid Khimoune, 1992
Rue du Bois-Merrain
Chartres, July 2002

“Planted since 1992 at the intersection of Marceau, Bois-Merrain and Tonnellerie streets, Rachid Khimoune's three ‘Croisés’ (Crusaders), sometimes renamed ‘Les Samouraïs’ (The Samurai), are made of materials from the street, such as grilles and ornate manhole covers, molded in a foundry and assembled in the old way with bronze nails.” (Les ‘Croisés’, Ville de Chartres)

Le glaive brisé

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Le glaive brisé (The broken sword) by Marcel Courbier, 1948
Homage to Jean Moulin
Boulevard de la Résistance
Chartres, July 2002

“Le Glaive brisé (The Broken Sword). That's the name given to the Jean Moulin memorial, which has stood since 1948 adjacent to the former prefecture building, now the residence of the prefects. A sword that can symbolize the Resistance, decapitated by the arrest on June 22, 1943, in Caluire, of the man entrusted by General de Gaulle to unify it. But one also thinks, subconsciously, of the razor blade he used to slit his own throat on the night of June 17-18, 1940, while he was still prefect of Eure-et-Loir.” (Le Glaive brisé, Le Point)

The Ark and the Philistines

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The Ark and the Philistines
North Porch
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres
Cloître Notre Dame
Chartres, July 2002

“The Ark of the Covenant was returned by the Philistines to the Israelites. It was carried on a cart drawn by two kine. In the background stands an angel. On the side of the cart are the golden mice and emerods (hemorrhoids) made by the Philistines to appease God, since he had punished them with plagues of mice and hemorrhoids after they had captured the Ark. Note the cloud above the cart. Below is the inscription :ARCHA:CEDERIS Right- Ark in the Temple of Dagon (I Samuel 5) The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines and placed in the temple of the idol Dagon (see figures below). The idol fell (at top of composition). Below is the inscription HIC.AMIC(?)ITVR.ARCHA:CEDERIS” (The Ark and the Philistines, University of Pittsburgh)

Souvenirs de Chartres

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Souvenirs de Chartres
Chartres, July 2002

Passage du Caire

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Passage du Caire
Place du Caire
Quartier de Bonne-Nouvelle, 2nd arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

L'Escargot Montorgueil

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Restaurant “L'Escargot Montorgueil”
Rue Montorgueil
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“L'Escargot Montorgueil is a restaurant located at the corner of rue Mauconseil and rue Montorgueil at Nos. 38 and 40 of the latter, in the Les Halles district of the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Founded in 1832, it is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris. It has retained its 19th-century sign, its Second Empire style decor, and a ceiling painted by Georges Clairin in 1900, which came from Sarah Bernhardt's private mansion. It is a listed historical monument. This restaurant specializes in Burgundian cuisine and snail dishes, and its clientele has included Marcel Proust, Sarah Bernhardt, Sacha Guitry, Pablo Picasso, and Charlie Chaplin.” (L'Escargot Montorgueil, Wikipedia)

Place René-Cassin

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Place René-Cassin
Rue Rambuteau
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

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Church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois
Place du Louvre
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois is a Roman Catholic church in the First Arrondissement of Paris, situated at 2 Place du Louvre, directly across from the Louvre Palace. It was named for Germanus of Auxerre, the Bishop of Auxerre (378-448), who became a papal envoy and who met Saint Genevieve, the patron Saint of Paris, on his journeys. Genevieve is reputed to have converted the queen Clotilde and her husband, French King Clovis I to Christianity at the tomb of Saint Germain in Auxerre. The current church was built in the 13th century, with major modifications in the 15th and 16th centuries. From 1608 until 1806, it was the parish church for inhabitants of the Palace, and many notable artists and architects, who worked on the Palace, have their tombs in the church. Since the 2019 fire which badly damaged Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, the cathedral regular services have been held at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois.” (Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, Wikipedia)

Interior of Saint-Germain

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Interior of the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois
Place du Louvre
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Fontaine du Palmier

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Fontaine du Palmier, 1808
Place du Châtelet
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Fontaine du Palmier (1806-1808) or Fontaine de la Victoire is a monumental fountain located in the Place du Châtelet, between the Théâtre du Châtelet and the Théâtre de la Ville, in the First Arrondissement of Paris. It was designed to provide fresh drinking water to the population of the neighborhood and to commemorate the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the largest fountain built during Napoleon's reign still in existence. The closest métro station is Châtelet. Fountain du Palmier was one of a series of fifteen fountains commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to his minister of the Interior, Emmanuel Cretet. It was designed by the engineer François-Jean Bralle, who was in charge of the Paris fountains and water supply during the First Empire. It was finished in 1808. The column, modeled after a Roman triumphal column, takes its name from the sculpted palm leaves at the top, commemorating Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign. The bands of bronze on the column pay tribute to Napoleon's victories at the siege of Danzig (1807), the Battle of Ulm (1805), the Battle of Marengo (1800), the Battle of the Pyramids (1798), and the Battle of Lodi (1796). At the top of the column is a statue of Victory made of gilded bronze, carrying the laurels of victory. People sometimes mistake the statue of the woman representing victory for a bird. The statue is the work of the sculptor Louis-Simon Boizot. The present statue is a copy; the original is in the courtyard of the Carnavalet Museum of the history of Paris. Around the base of the column are four statues representing Vigilance, Justice, Strength and Prudence, also made by Boizot. The lower basin of the fountain, designed by architect Gabriel Davioud, was added to the fountain in 1858 during the reign of Emperor Louis Napoleon when the Place du Châtelet was expanded and the fountain moved to its center during the renovations of Baron Haussmann. At that time the base was also decorated with statues of Egyptian sphinxes spouting streams of water, sculpted by Henri Alfred Jacquemart.” (Fontaine du Palmier, Wikipedia)

Chapelle de la Sorbonne

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Chapelle de la Sorbonne (Sorbonne Chapel)
Place de la Sorbonne
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Chapel of Sainte-Ursule de la Sorbonne, also known as the Sorbonne Chapel, was the chapel for the Catholic students and faculty of the College of Sorbonne in Paris in the 18th century, then for the university faculties of Paris in the 20th century. It is located at 17 Rue de la Sorbonne in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. It was commissioned in 1626 by Cardinal Richelieu whose tomb was placed there after his death in 1642. It is the only building remaining from the 17th century university. As of May 2025, the chapel is still closed to the public for major renovation.” (Sorbonne Chapel, Wikipedia)

Oxalys

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“Oxalys”
Rue Descartes
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Rue Descartes is a street located on Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in the Quartier de la Sorbonne of the 5th arrondissement of Paris. This street begins at Rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève (Place Jacqueline-de-Romilly) and ends at Rue Thouin (formerly Rue de Fourcy and Rue des Fossés-Saint-Victor). It continues south as Rue Mouffetard in the Latin Quarter, which explains the presence of numerous businesses such as pubs, shisha bars, Lebanese caterers, bar-restaurants, and bazaars. Because of the presence of these numerous activities, the street is very popular with tourists who like the ‘village’ aspect of the square formed by the intersection of Rue Descartes, Rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève and Rue de l'École-Polytechnique.” (Rue Descartes, Wikipedia)

L’arbre bleu

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“L’arbre bleu” (The Blue Tree) by Pierre Alechinsky
(Poem by French poet and writer Yves Bonnefoy)
Rue Descartes
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Passant, regarde ce grand arbre et à travers lui, il peut suffire.Car même déchiré, souillé, l’arbre des rues, c’est toute la nature, tout le ciel, l’oiseau s’y pose, le vent y bouge, le soleil y dit le même espoir malgréla mort. Philosophe, as-tu chance d’avoir arbre dans ta rue, tes pensées seront moins ardues, tes yeux plus libres, tes mains plus désireuses de moins de nuit.

(Passerby, look at this great tree and through it, that could be enough.For even torn up, sullied, the tree of the street is all of nature, all the heavens, the bird alights there, the wind moves there,the sun there expresses the same hope in spite of death. Philosopher, if you are lucky enough to have trees in your street, your thoughts will be less arduous, your eyes more free, your hands more desirous, at least at night.)

Le grand orgue

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Le grand orgue (The Great Organ)
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
Place Sainte-Geneviève
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“In 1636, the organ, built by Pierre Pescheur, was installed. When the organ was damaged by fire in 1760, it was rebuilt by Cliquot. Further work was carried out in 1863 by Cavaillé-Coll, and the present instrument is the work of further revision by Beuchet-Debierre in 1956. The case of the organ of the tribune was made beginning in 1633 by Jean Buron, and is the oldest and best-preserved original case in Paris. It is topped by sculpture of Christ surrounded by angels playing the kinnor, an ancient Hebrew variation of the lyre.” (Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Wikipedia)

Chapelle de la Communion

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Chapelle de la Communion (des Catéchismes)
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
Place Sainte-Geneviève
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Chapel of Communion (also known as the Cloister Gallery or Chamber of Catechisms) adjoining the choir originally contained the remains of clerics of the church, and was known for that reason as the ‘Chapel of the Charnel House’. Late in the French Revolution, the bodies of Jean-Paul Marat, after he was killed by Charlotte Corday, and Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau (1795) were removed from the Panthéon, where they had been placed as revolutionary heroes, and kept in the chapel until they were later buried in ordinary graves. During the First World War, when Paris was being bombarded by German artillery outside the city, a group of twelve 17th-century stained glass windows, belonging to the Churches of Saint-Eustache, Paris; Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois and Saint-Merri were transferred to the chapel for their protection. Following the war, the windows remained there, and underwent restoration, funded by the City of Paris. Unlike most other Paris stained glass windows of that period, they are at eye level and can be examined up close.” (Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Wikipedia)

Jubé

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Jubé (Rood Screen) by Antoine Beaucorps
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
Place Sainte-Geneviève
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The most unusual feature of the church is the Jubé or Rood screen, created in about 1530, the only existing example in Paris. It is an elaborate sculptural screen which separates the nave from the choir. The screen was used as a platform to read the scripture to the ordinary parishioners. They were very common during the Middle Ages, but were largely abolished in the 17th and 18th centuries under a decree of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) which aimed at making the ceremonies in the choir more visible to the ordinary parishioners in the nave. The screen was designed by Antoine Beaucorps, and while its purpose is Gothic, its decoration is French Renaissance. It takes the form of an arched bridge facing the choir with three arcades. A tribune for readings occupies the center facing the nave. Two very elegant spiral stairways give access to the tribune from the sides. The decoration includes two statues of ‘Renommées’, or ‘Renowned ones’, based on classical Roman statues, holding olive branches and crowns.” (Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Wikipedia)

Inside Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

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The interior of the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
Place Sainte-Geneviève
Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Direction de l'Action sociale

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Direction de l'Action sociale by Aymeric Zublena, 1992
Quai de la Rapée
Quartier des Quinze-Vingts, 12th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“A forecourt carved into the facade, two elevator shafts extending through the building to the roof, a monumental doorway, a 32m x 24m sliding glass and metal screen that can close the forecourt at will—the institution is explicitly symbolized here. The building is constructed of stainless steel and aluminum, and deliberately remains highly visible.” (Direction de l'Action Sociale, PSS-archi)

Austerlitz Viaduct

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Viaduc d'Austerlitz (Austerlitz Viaduct), 1904
Quai de la Rapée / Quai d'Austerlitz
Quartier de la Salpêtrière, 13th arrondissement
Paris, July 2006

“Due to restrictions posed by navigational traffic, it was implausible to place a pier in the middle of the river. Therefore, in 1903, engineer Louis Biette, with the help of Fulgence Bienvenüe, conceptualized a metallic bridge that crossed the river in a single span. It was designed by the architect Jean-Camille Formigé, who also designed the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, the greenhouses of Auteiul, and the park below the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur, and restored the Roman amphitheater in Arles and the Roman theater in Orange. .[1] Formigé decorated the steel arcs with marine-themed reliefs, including dolphins, seashells and seaweeds. Parts of the steel footings are etched with figures of the Parisian Coat of Arms, which symbolizes steadfastness.” (Viaduc d'Austerlitz, Wikipedia)

Bir-Hakeim

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Bir-Hakeim metro station
Boulevard de Grenelle
Quartier de Grenelle, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Bir-Hakeim is an elevated station of the Paris Métro serving line 6 in the Boulevard de Grenelle in the 15th arrondissement. It is situated on the left bank of the Bir-Hakeim bridge over the Seine. The name of both the bridge and the station commemorates the World War II battle of Bir Hakeim. The station is above the RER C line; the station Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel is within walking distance.” (Bir-Hakeim, Wikipedia)

Hommage à Nicolas Ledoux

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“Hommage à Nicolas Ledoux” by Anne & Patrick Poirier, 1989
“Le Ponant” office building by Olivier Clement
Rue Leblanc
Quartier de Javel, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Erected amidst mirrored buildings, Anne and Patrick Poirier's column ‘Homage to Nicolas Ledoux’ is reflected on the multiple panes of glass and appears to dislocate a second time. The polished steel shafts, in turn, reflect the modern decor of this new office complex designed by architect Olivier Clément Cacoub. The lopsided column by Anne and Patrick Poirier highlights the loss of tradition in the modern architecture of the 1980s. These ‘modern’ buildings already displayed outdated architecture even before their inauguration in 1989 by Jacques Chirac, then mayor of Paris. In 1990, ‘Urbanismes et Architecture’, a professional journal, cited the Ponant district as an urban disaster. In Toronto, Canada, there is a broken column quite similar to the one at Ponant. It is titled ‘Memory of the Future’ (1992). While Anne and Patrick Poirier give contradictory titles to very similar works, the artificial ruin ‘Homage to Nicolas Ledoux’ is not merely an echo of the past. It is as much an archaeology of the future as it is a trace of an ancient civilization; times intertwine. Like the past, the future is fragile and can vanish into chaos.” (Les fausses ruines d'Anne et Patrick Poirier au quartier du Ponant, archéologie du futur / archéologie du quotidien)

Terrasse Lautréamont

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Terrasse Lautréamont
Forum des Halles
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Terrasse Lautréamont is a public thoroughfare located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. It is located in the Les Halles area (Forum des Halles), at level +1 (first floor). The terrace starts at Porte Lescot and ends at Porte Rambuteau. It is named after Isidore Ducasse , known as the Count of Lautréamont (Montevideo, 1846 – Paris, 1870), a French writer. This road was created during the development of the Les Halles area. Provisionally named ‘voie J/1’, this public road received its current name by municipal decree ofAugust 26, 1985.” (Terrasse Lautréamont, Wikipedia)

Église Saint-Eustache

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Église Saint-Eustache (Church of St. Eustache)
Impasse Saint-Eustache
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Church of St. Eustache, Paris (Église Saint-Eustache) is a church in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. The present building was built between 1532 and 1632. Situated near the site of Paris' medieval marketplace (Les Halles) and rue Montorgueil, Saint-Eustache exemplifies a mixture of multiple architectural styles: its structure is Flamboyant Gothic while its interior decoration and other details are Renaissance and classical.” (Saint-Eustache, Wikipedia)

8,000 pipes

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The great organ
Église Saint-Eustache (Church of St. Eustache)
Impasse Saint-Eustache
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“With nearly 8,000 pipes, the great organ, with 101 stops and 147 ranks of pipes, is one of the largest organs in France, competing for first place with the great organ of Notre Dame de Paris, with 115 stops and 156 ranks of pipes, and that of Saint Sulpice, with 102 stops and 135 ranks of pipes, and reaching first place with its size, 10 metres wide and 18 metres high. The organ, originally constructed by P.-A. Ducroquet, was powerful enough for the premiere of Hector Berlioz's titanic Te Deum to be performed at St-Eustache in 1855. It was later modified under the direction of Joseph Bonnet. The present organ of St. Eustache was designed by Jean-Louis Coignet under the direction of Titular Organist Jean Guillou and dates from 1989, when it was almost entirely rebuilt by Dutch firm van Den Heuvel, retaining a few ranks of pipes from the former organ and the wooden case, which is original. Each summer, organ concerts commemorate the premieres of Berlioz’s Te Deum and Liszt’s Christus here in 1886.” (Saint-Eustache, Wikipedia)

Chaire de Baltard et Pyanet

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Pulpit by Victor Baltard, sculpted by Victor Pyanet
Église Saint-Eustache (Church of St. Eustache)
Impasse Saint-Eustache
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Le Mariage de la Vierge

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Le Mariage de la Vierge, high relief by Henry de Triqueti
Chapelle Saints-Innocents
Église Saint-Eustache (Church of St. Eustache)
Impasse Saint-Eustache
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Baron Henri Joseph François de Triqueti (24 October 1803 – 11 May 1874), also spelt Henry de Triqueti, was a French sculptor and artist. Henri Joseph François de Triqueti was born in the Château du Perthuis in Conflans-sur-Loing, the son of Piedmontese industrialist and diplomat Baron Michel de Triqueti, a native of Annecy. In 1788, Michel Triquet was made a baron by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and the name changed to Triqueti. Triqueti's career started around 1830, when he turned to sculpture, and away from painting, which had been his chief preoccupation up to this point. Triqueti progressively assumed the position of one of the July Monarchy’s official sculptors, obtained the patronage of King Louis-Philippe. The bronze doors of the church of La Madeleine in Paris (1834–41), and the tomb effigy of Ferdinand-Philippe d’Orléans (1842) are the key works of the first period of his career, the ‘French’ phase (1831–48). With the fall of the July Monarchy in 1848, Triqueti redoubled his efforts in England, establishing links with prestigious patrons, chief among them the royal couple. His standing as an artist, his deep piety and extensive knowledge of Renaissance art endeared him to Prince Albert[citation needed]; his ‘English’ phase lasted from 1849 until his death.” (Henri de Triqueti, Wikipedia)

The nave and choir

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The nave and choir
Église Saint-Eustache (Church of St. Eustache)
Impasse Saint-Eustache
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Forum des Halles

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Vue générale (General view)
Forum des Halles
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Forum des Halles, a partially underground multiple story commercial and shopping centre, designed by Claude Vasconi and Georges Pencreac'h, opened at the east end of the site on 4 September 1979 in the presence of the Mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac. A public garden covering 4 hectares (9.9 acres) opened in 1986. Many of the surrounding streets were pedestrianized. The demolition of Baltard's market hall structure and the design of the spaces that replaced it proved highly controversial over the subsequent decades. The critic Oliver Wainwright called the razing ‘one of the worst acts of urban vandalism of the century’, and that the place became a ‘national embarrassment’ with the park ‘a magnet for drug dealing’. Historian Donato Severo called the events ‘the most violent act ever committed against the heritage of Paris’, with architect Lloyd Alter adding that the replacement complex was ‘nearly universally reviled for its mean spirit’.” (Les Halles, Wikipedia)

Le cylindre à Totos

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Le cylindre à Totos by Jofo (Jean-François Duplantier), 1995
Forum des Halles
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“‘The cylinder for totos’ was designed and produced by the Bordeaux painter Jofo in response to the artistic commission of the GIE of the Forum des Halles as part of the ‘Paris-ci, par là’ operation. Playful and pop-art, the game of finding ‘the one who looks most like you’ among 220 cartoon characters has become, over time, an essential work of art in the heart of the capital. Jofo's black and white artwork blends perfectly with the two-tone curves of the Vasconi and Pencréac'h buildings. The portrait gallery located on the upper square of the Forum will thus contribute to slightly changing the negative image of this large shopping center, which is not particularly popular with Parisians but is very popular with residents of the Île-de-France region and tourists.” (Le cylindre à Totos, Cylindre à Jofo)

Galeries

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Galeries du forum des Halles Forum des Halles
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Rue Mondétour

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Résidence du Forum des Halles
Rue Mondétour
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Terrasses

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Terrasses du forum des Halles
Forum des Halles
Quartier des Halles, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Le Grand Assistant

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“Le Grand Assistant” by Max Ernst
Rue Rambuteau / rue Brantôme
Quartier de l'Horloge, 3rd arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Art in Paris is not limited to the collections exhibited in museums. It is everywhere, and many masterpieces can be discovered during walks. But not all of them are showcased. This is particularly the case with a work of art installed opposite Beaubourg, in the very busy rue Rambuteau: the Grand Assistant by Max Ernst. A work that practically no passer-by notices! Offered to the Center Pompidou following a donation from the artist in 1975, the work has been presented since 1996 perched on a plinth in rue Rambuteau, at the intersection of rue de Brantôme, in the 3rd arrondissement. Half-man, half-bird seeming to be preparing for an improbable flight, the German artist Max Ernst (1891-1976) described him as Humanoid when it was produced in 1967. German painter and sculptor born in Brühl in 1891, major figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements, Max Ernst settled for the first time in Paris in 1913. Back in Germany, he experimented new creative techniques, such as rubbing, and produced collages, then tried sculpture from 1930. The bird was moreover one of the most recurring motifs in the abundant work of Max Ernst, fascinated by its symbolism, as the base of the rue Rambuteau refers to its function as a totem in Amerindian civilizations. His polymorphic work, composed of oddities that resist the eye and play with interpretations, is today recognized as one of the most important of the 20th century. An artistic production that spans more than 70 years, almost half of which has been spent in France and Paris. Naturalized French in 1958, Max Ersnt died in Paris in April 1976. His ashes rest in the Père-Lachaise columbarium. The work visible on rue Rambuteau is a copy of the original kept in the collections of the Pierre Gianadda Foundation, in Switzerland. A replica is also visible in Amboise, offered by the artist to its mayor, Michel Debré, for having helped him in his naturalization procedures.” (The work of art in the heart of Paris that no one notices, Un Jour de Plus à Paris)

Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs

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Église Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs (Church of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs)
Rue Saint-Martin
Quartier des Arts-et-Métiers, 3rd arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Church of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs (literally, St Nicholas-in-the-Fields) is a Catholic church in Paris' Third arrondissement. Early parts of the church, including the west front, built 1420–1480, are in the Flamboyant Gothic style, while later portions, including the south portal, mostly built 1576–86, are examples of French Renaissance architecture. It is notable particularly for its Renaissance carved sculpture, decoration and large collection of French Renaissance paintings in the interior. The first chapel was constructed at the end of the 11th century by the monks of the Priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, a Benedictine monastery, as a church for the servants of the abbey. The abbey at this time was one of the most important in France; it was called ‘the third daughter of Cluny’, after Cluny Abbey in Burgundy, the monastery responsible for the order's Cluniac reforms. It is located next to the Musée des Arts et Métiers, a museum of industrial arts and crafts, which occupies the site of the original Priory of Saint Martin, and preserves a portion of the old monastery.” (Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs, Wikipedia)

Cadran solaire

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Cadran solaire (sundial)
Rue des Archives, Le Marais
Quartier des Archives, 3rd arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Achat de Chevaux

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Ancienne boucherie chevaline (Former horse butcher's shop)
Rue du Roi-de-Sicile, Marais
Quartier Saint-Gervais, 4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

L'arbre et la fontaine

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“L'arbre et la fontaine” (The Tree and the fountain)
Rue de la Verrerie
Quartier Saint-Gervais, 4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Héloïse and Abélard

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Maison d'Héloïse et Abélard (House of Héloïse and Abélard)
Quai aux Fleurs, Île de la Cité
Quartier Notre-Dame, 4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Mythical couple of the medieval era, symbol of free love and impossible passion, the story of Héloïse and Abelard has always inspired art and culture. And it was in Paris that this love story largely played out, from the slopes of the Sainte-Geneviève mountain to the former student quarter of the cloister of Notre-Dame. Between stroll and history, follow in the footsteps of the most famous lovers of the Middle Ages. It was first as a student that Abelard became known in Paris. Arriving from his native Brittany, he was around 20 years old when he entered the Île de la Cité to take classes at the Notre-Dame college. At the beginning of the 12th century, being a student means endlessly discussing theses and hypotheses. Confident in his knowledge, he quickly confronted the greatest masters of the time, overturning the usual codes of dialectic. In a few months, Abelard quickly made a name for himself, and became master. A canon of Notre-Dame, Fulbert, invited the philosopher to his home to instruct his young niece, Héloïse, who was promised a great intellectual future. Abelard had already noticed the young lady during his walks in the narrow streets around the cathedral, whose beauty matched her intelligence. ‘The books were open, but more words of love than philosophy were mixed into the lessons, more kisses than explanations’, Abelard recounted. At number 9-11 of the Quai aux Fleurs, on the Ile de la Cité, is the location of these first loves between a professor and his student, between a philosopher and the daughter of a monk… A concentrate of forbidden and impossible love. The revenge of Fulbert, who one day surprised them in the girl’s bedroom, will be at the height of the scandal. One day while Abelard was sleeping, three men immobilized him and castrated him. An event which also took place on the Île de la Cité. The current building dates from 1849.” (In the footsteps of Héloïse and Abelard, Un Jour de Plus à Paris)

Sainte-Chapelle

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Le Sainte-Chapelle (The Holy Chapel)
Boulevard du Palais
Île de la Cité
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Bird houses

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Marché aux fleurs et aux oiseaux
Place Louis Lépine
Île de la Cité
Quartier Notre-Dame, 4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The Marché aux fleurs Reine-Elizabeth-II is a flower market in Paris. It was formerly known as the Marché aux fleurs et aux oiseaux Cité but was renamed for Queen Elizabeth II after a state visit in 2014. It sells caged birds on Sundays but this trade has been forbidden on the grounds of animal welfare and so is expected to cease after a period of renovation and reorganisation scheduled from 2023 to 2025.” (Marché aux fleurs Reine-Elizabeth-II, Wikipedia)

Cité

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Cité metro station entrance
Place Louis Lépine
Île de la Cité
Quartier Notre-Dame, 4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“Cité is a metro station on Line 4 of the Paris Métro in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. Cité station lies underneath the Île de la Cité, one of two islands on the Seine within the historical boundaries of Paris. In relation to the rest of the city, it lies within the 4th arrondissement, near Kilometre Zero, the official geographical and historical centre of Paris. The only station on the Île de la Cité, it lies near many famous landmarks, the most famous being the Notre-Dame de Paris (Cathedral of Notre Dame). To the west are the Sainte-Chapelle chapel and the Palace of Justice, while Notre Dame and the Hôtel-Dieu are to the east.” (Cité station, Wikipedia)

Lampadaire

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Lampadaire (street lamp)
Palais de Justice de Paris
Boulevard du Palais
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Chapelle haute

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Stained glass windows
Chapelle haute (Upper Chapel)
Le Sainte-Chapelle (The Holy Chapel)
Boulevard du Palais
Île de la Cité
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

Salle des hommes d'armes

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Salle des hommes d'armes (Hall of the Men-at-arms) Conciergerie

Boulevard du Palais
Île de la Cité
Quartier Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, 1st arrondissement

“The Conciergerie (English: Lodge) is a former courthouse and prison in Paris, France, located on the west of the Île de la Cité, below the Palais de Justice. It was originally part of the former royal palace, the Palais de la Cité, which also included the Sainte-Chapelle. Two large medieval halls remain from the royal palace. During the French Revolution, 2,780 prisoners, including Marie-Antoinette, were imprisoned, tried and sentenced at the Conciergerie, then sent to different sites to be executed by the guillotine. It is now a national monument and museum.” (Conciergerie, Wikipedia)

Le Train Bleu

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“Le Train Bleu” (The Blue Train)
Paris-Gare-de-Lyon
Place Louis-Armand
Quartier des Quinze-Vingts, 12th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

SNCF TGV Atlantique

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SNCF TGV Atlantique
Paris-Gare-de-Lyon
Place Louis-Armand
Quartier des Quinze-Vingts, 12th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

“The TGV Atlantique (TGV-A) is a class of high-speed trains used in France by SNCF; they were built by Alstom between 1988 and 1992, and were the second generation of TGV trains, following on from the TGV Sud-Est. 105 bi-current sets, numbered 301-405, were built for the opening of the LGV Atlantique. Entry into service began in 1989. They are 237.5 m (779 ft) long and 2.904 m (9 ft 6.3 in) wide. They weigh 444 t (437 long tons; 489 short tons), and are made up of two power cars and ten carriages with a total of 485 seats. They were built for a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) with 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) total power under 25 kV.” (SNCF TGV Atlantique, Wikipedia)