Le Comptoire de la Gastronomie

Le Comptoire de la Gastronomie

A café with a view in all directions,

from the impressive Art Nouveau façade of the

café/boutique to the café across the street

(Le Cochon à l'Oreille).

bon week end

Le Comptoire de la Gastronomie

34, rue Montmartre

75001, Paris

Métro Réaumur-Sébastopol - Entrée d'Hector Guimard

Art Nouveau design

These famed entrances designed by Hector Guimard were surrounded in talk and not a little controversy in 1900.  The most elaborate were those with glass canopies, of which three still exist.  

Guimard's design above can be seen all over Paris, and there are 80 of this style with cast-iron balustrades decorated in plant-like motifs still remaining today.  The orange light globes sit atop ornate cast-iron supports in the form of plant stems.  Typical of the Art Nouveau style, the entire design is quite "organic."

Métro Réaumur-Sébastopol - Entrée d'Hector Guimard

Lines 3 et 4

75002, 75003, Paris 

La salamandre et le maïs - art nouveau

This interesting motif of a salamander eating a stalk of corn is found on Rue de Grenelle.  The art nouveau double door is part of pair, each with a salamander.  Apparently, this greedy one got the corn.

The building was designed by architect Jules Lavirotte in 1898, his first major building.  The façade, influenced by the French Rococo style, offers only hints of the theatrical displays for which Lavirotte was to become known.  He designed at least nine buildings still standing in the 7ième arrondissement.

151, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métro La Tour-Maubourg



Hector Guimard - art nouveau

The graceful curves of this wrought iron and glass awning are typical of art nouveau detail.

The pattern on the stones resembling coral are called "vermiculation" as it mimics the trail of worms in soft soil.  This is one form of an architectural technique known as "rustication" which has been in use at least since the rennaissance period.  You may have noticed this same pattern on the Louvre palace and Haussmannian buildings around Paris.

This elegant home which sits inside the gates of Parc de Monceau has a stunning main entrance in the courtyard.  This is just the "back door."

5, ave Van Dyck

75008, Paris

Through a glass darkly...

Looking out the windows on the front of Eglise Notre Dame du Travail,

one can just make out the small park across the cobbled street.

Bon dimanche

Eglise Notre Dame du Travail

36, rue Guilleminot

75014 Paris

Église Notre Dame du Travail

While on my way to another destination, I found this church which was built between 1899 and 1901 for the working neighborhood all in steel and iron.  It is interesting that this church was constructed in the same period as La Tour Eiffel and perhaps by some of the same laborers.

The art nouveau design of the organ is nestled in the midst of the iron and steel, providing a soft touch to this interesting church.

bon dimanche

Église Notre Dame du Travail

36, rue Guilleminot

75014 Paris