Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

 

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, watchmaker, inventor, musician, diplomat, fugitive, spy, publisher, arms dealer, financier, revolutionary, 1732-1799

He was perhaps most known for his theatrical works, including three Figaro plays: Le Barbier de Séville, Le Mariage de Figaro, and La Mère coupable.   

Determined to publish Voltaire's complete works, many of which were banned, he bought the rights to the manuscripts and set up a print shop in Germany.  He was instrumental in saving many of Voltaire's works which might otherwise have been lost.

This statue by Louis Clausade (1895) sits in a triangle in the Marais.

Beaumarchais statue

Rue Saint Antoine et Rue des Tournelles

Métro Bastille

75004 Paris

Église Réformée du Marais

This Renaissance structure was constructed by Mansart between 1632 and 1634 under the direction of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal.  Originally, it was the old Marais parish church known as the Saint-Marie Temple.  Spared during the Revolution, it was converted into a Protestant church in 1802.  It has a variety of Protestant Sunday services in French, Japanese, Arabic, and a service labeled Afro-Carribbean.

When I took this photo, it was for the large doors of red, but in reading about this church I feel compelled to return when it is open.  There are tours one Sunday each month.

Bon dimanche

Église Réformée du Marais
17, rue Saint-Antoine
75004, Paris

Carrousel -- Les Vedettes

Interesting choice of vehicle for these two movie stars!

Rue de Rivoli and
Rue Saint-Antoine
at M. St. Paul

Dominoes?

Early on a Sunday morning I spied these 7 delivery bikes which had suffered the tumbling effect of dominoes.
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Zoom-zoom!

Église Saint Paul Saint Louis -- Confessional

The sun shining radiantly through the church windows highlights the confessional in Saint Paul Saint Louis in the Marais. I previously showed you the organ pipes in this 17th century church here.

Église Saint Paul Saint Louis

99 Rue St-Antoine
75004 Ils-de-France
Paris, France