Rue du Cardinal Lemoine - a courtyard for all seasons

Courtyard

Rue du Cardinal Lemoine

Palms, wisteria, fatsia, evergreens, honeysuckle, 

and the climbing vines that turn electric shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn.

I will have to check out this courtyard in the other seasons.  

I think that it was designed for appeal no matter the time of year.

69, rue du Cardinal Lemoine

75005, Paris

Une cour privée

a private courtyard

I hesitate to call this a courtyard as it should qualify as a full park.  
The beautiful wrought iron gates were open 
and I only stayed a few minutes.  


There are small private courtyards all over Paris 
but this one could not be seen from the street 
and was revealed to be larger than I could imagine.

Avenue du Général Leclerc

74014, Paris

 

Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine - une cour

A courtyard

Locked away from the peering eyes on the street is this charming courtyard.  We stayed for two weeks with a view of the rooftops.  Our spacious apartment was on the fifth and sixth floors, beautifully furnished with a delightful cross-breeze in the heat of the summer.  We did not gain an ounce or a gram with the daily climbing of steps.

We even enjoyed the pleasure of a delightful resident cat who took the stairs more easily than we did and who had full run of the courtyard with another friend.

Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75011, Paris

Colonnes de Buren - une étude en noir et blanc

Les Deux Plateaux

more commonly known as Colonnes de Buren

(Buren Columns)

Since their installation in 1986 in the Coeur d'Honneur of the Palais Royal, they have been a source of controversy.  Made of steel, concrete, marble, stone, and aluminum their presence invites playful children of all ages... and photographers.  The angles and points of view are limitless, with or without a human subject.

When the lines begin to run together,

then it is time for rest, play and a good weekend.

 

Les Deux Plateaux
Buren Columns, La Coeur d'Honneur
Palais-Royal
75001, Paris

Courtyard stairway

Peering into a quiet courtyard,

these steps and terrace were inviting us to enter.

Petit Palais

The day Marie and I went to Petit Palais, there was a special exhibit, pieces of which were in every room. As a result, there were "no photos allowed!" The courtyard did provide a vista filled with art and nature, all warmed by the spring sunshine.



Do not forget to look "down" also!

Umphhh!

I would say that this is a mouthful!

Whether you are a history buff or not, you would surely enjoy the display of cannons in Cour d'Honneur.

We previously visited the cannons here.

Petit Palais

The Petit Palais was built in 1900 and is the site of the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts. Seen here is an octi-circular courtyard and garden and its ionic columns. It has a remarkable collection of paintings and sculptures.

Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris

Avenue Winston Churchill

Cour d'Honneur -- Les Invalides

You do not have to be a fan of France's military history to appreciate the beautiful patina on the cannons in Cour d'Honneur. Some of them date from the reign of François 1er, 1515-1567.

I have heard that decorators and gardeners go to extreme measures to get the green patina that the centuries have adorned naturally.

Hung out to dry

Le cinquième étage, window with a view of Paris rooftops, purring appartement chat, quiet locked courtyard, a gentle breeze....

I play an imaginary role as I fashion myself a Parisian, shopping in the market, having "un noisette" in the corner café at "sept heures et demie" each day, greeting the young couple from le deuxième étage as we pass in the courtyard....

It just does not get any better than this! Yet, when the time comes I am ready to return to my regular life, my everyday existence, le quotidien.....

To dream of the next trip to Paris...