Marché aux Fleurs

Flower Market

The flower market on Ile de la Cité 

has attracted both avid gardeners

and curious passersby since 1830.

Located near Notre Dame in 

Place Louis Lépine, 

it is worth strolling through.

Marché aux Fleurs

Place Louis Lépine

75004, Paris

 

Paris Métro - Ligne 4, Station Cité

Station Cité

Line 4

This Métro station is an impressive 62 feet under ground, 

and the stairs, lift, rails, and platform are all contained in two metal caissons.  

Built in 1911, it took a full year to complete. 

This entire platform area is under the Seine! 

bon weekend

Paris Métro, Ligne 4, Station Cité

75004, Paris

Île de la Cité - les serveurs

Les Serveurs

Dressed perfectly for the job, 

waiters are perhaps one of my favorite subjects in Paris

I did not exactly ask for permission 

but I pointed to my camera 

and tilted my head posing the unspoken question.  

With a slight nod, permission was given.

Île de la Cité

75004, Paris

La Sainte-Chapelle - la chapelle basse

La Sainte-Chapelle

The Lower Chapel, 1242

The windows of the upper chapel are stunning 

but no more so than the vibrant bold colors 

of the lower chapel with accents of gold.  

This magnificent 13th century Gothic chapel on Île de la Cité 

was built by Louis IX for use as his royal chapel.  

The lower chapel seen here served as parish church 

for all the inhabitants of the king's palace.

bon dimanche

La Sainte-Chapelle

4, boulevard du Palais

75001, Paris

Sainte-Chapelle - une arche des anges

Sainte-Chapelle

Palatine chapel

Certainly the magnificent jewel-toned stained glass windows are eye-catching, 

but every inch of the wall surface and the vault is intricately colored and decorated.

Fragments of the original paint would indicate that the colors of the 19th century restoration pale by comparison.  The 13th century designers selected colors that were closer to the vivid hues of the stained glass windows.

Stunning!

bon dimanche

Sainte-Chapelle

4, boulevard du Palais

75001, Paris  

Marché aux Oiseaux - Place Louis Lépine

Marché aux Fleurs

(Marché aux Oiseaux)

On Sundays the Marché aux Fleurs becomes the Marché aux Oiseaux (Bird Market) 

with a chatty selection of birds, from the ordinary to the rare.   You may find hens, chickens, roosters, rabbits, fish, Guinea pigs.  

If you are looking for color, the birds will oblige your request.

 

Marché aux Fleurs
Place Louis Lépine
Île de la Cité
75004, Paris

L'Aube de la Nouvelle Annee

Sunrise on the Seine

If you have never seen a winter sunrise in Paris (and believe me there are many Parisians who do not even know there is such a thing) you have missed views such as this.  

I was very fortunate to have three trips to Paris this year, visiting with old friends and new, riding Velibs with my daughter Holly, eating oysters, making new discoveries, having a party in our Paris apartment, and showing my husband the city I love in the perfect weather of late March.

May each of you be open to new discoveries in this new year!

Quai aux Fleurs - Autolib

Autolib

There has been much written in the press (and blogs) since Autolibs appeared in Paris on December 1, 2011.  I saw my first of these in January on the way to a party with friends.  

The concept is fascinating: 

You jump in the car, ride to another location, and walk away. 

I hope that they do not lose any of them!

Quai aux Fleurs

Île de la Cité

75004, Paris



Les herbes et les fleurs de printemps

An abundance of healthy herbs and plants available in every market...

Herbs and flowers on my Paris terrace to go with the lantern...

Now, just to find a cafe table and chairs...

Marche aux Fleurs

75004, Paris

Les lanternes

In the Marché aux Fleurs I found this collection of lanterns

suspended from the greenhouse roof. 

I dreamed that I had the two in front for large candles on my Paris terrace. 

Un aperitif?

Marché aux Fleurs
Place Louis Lepine
Île de la Cité
75004, Paris

Sphinx et la Fontaine du Palmier

This sphinx is one of four at the base of the monumental Fontaine du Palmier which was constructed between 1806 and 1808 to provide drinking water to the residents of Paris and to commemorate the victories of Napoleon.  The sphinxes were sculpted by Henri Alfred Jacquemart almost 100 years later to acknowledge Napoleon's victories over Egypt. The gilt statue of Victory sits atop the almost 60-foot column of the Fontaine du Palmier and greatly overshadows this sphinx.

The simple gray tones of the sphinx pale beneath the gold Victory, but what a wonderful view of Paris buildings, busy street life, and the Seine from his vantage point.  Most visitors look up and shoot - don't forget to notice a sphinx.

(Seen in the background, the dome of Tribunal de Commerce on Île de la Cité)

Fontaine du Palmier

Place du Châtelet

75001, Paris

Square du Vert-Galant

Square du Vert-Galant

If you look at my banner photo you will see this square taken from Pont des Arts in summer.  This narrow piece of land on the western tip of Île de la Cité 

looks much like the bow of a ship in the middle of the Seine

and is a beautiful, quiet retreat on this January day. 

It was named for the dashing 16th century king of France, 

Henry IV, known as the lusty gallant!

Square du Vert-Galant

75001 Paris

Must be a French girl...

She has the style, the self-assured attitude, the certain je ne sais quoi...

Wait... Is that a LLBean backpack?

It is not a French girl, but close!

Rue d'Arcole

Ile de la Cité

75004 Paris



L'aube de la nouvelle année

I have been touched this year by the friends I have met

both virtually and face-to-face from around the world through blogs. 

Through my Paris experiences and photos

I have learned many secrets and stories of the city I love so. 

The Paris Friends I have met in the markets, the patisseries, the bistrots, and galleries have enriched my visits. 

Je vous souhaite une merveilleuse année 2012!

Notre Dame illuminated....

Taking another look at Notre Dame and the iron lamposts

facing this reknown cathedral

Bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

There are so many interesting aspects of this famous Cathedral. Here is a view of the south façade of Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris.