Église Saint-Pierre de Montrouge

Église Saint-Pierre de Montrouge

This Nineteenth Century Paris church was the work of architect Joseph Auguste Émile Vaudremer between 1865 and 1870 during Haussmann's redesign of the city.  The elegant Neo-Romanesque and Byzantine influences can be seen in the architectural design.  Vaudremer was inspired by the Roman basilicas and churches, winning the lauréat du premier grand of the Prix de Rome in 1854.  He resided at the French Academy in Rome at the Villa Medici between 1855 and 1858.

It would appear that the church has recently undergone cleaning and perhaps renovation.  The "fresh-scrubbed" look takes out the surface contrast giving the structure a flat, two-dimensional appearance.  I did not go in, but have it on my list for a future trip.

bon dimanche

Saint-Pierre de Montrouge
82, avenue du Général Leclerc
75014, Paris
Métro : Alésia

Le Tour de France 100

100 Years

Le Tour

Le Tour de France begins today and looks back to the first Tour in 1903.  Three grueling weeks of mountains and time trials, 2,000 miles, 23 stages, all culminating with a finish on the Champs-Elysées.

The Tour de France has visited every region of Metropolitan France except Corsica, but the opening stages this year begin on Corsica as part of the celebrations for the 100th edition of the race.

If you have no interest in the sport, you would surely love the countryside, the little villages, the chateaus, the mountain ridges, the coastlines.  Take a look at the towns and villages of the 2013 Tour.  There is much to be seen... and, it lasts for three weeks!

Le Tour de France

2013, June 29 - July 21

Corsica and France

Le Café Hortense

Le Café Hortense

The website for this colorful-terrace is based in the same bright magenta, purple, red that you see here.  There were few patrons enjoying this sunny morning, but I would imagine a full terrace for déjeuner would be expected.  It sits at the corner of Rue Paul Cezanne, and is only a stone's throw from Avenue Myron Herrick.  

Herrick (1854-1929) was the Governor of Ohio and subsequently the American Ambassador to France.  It is interesting that he is the only American Ambassador to have a street named after him in Paris.  Herrick was the ambassador who hosted Charles Lindbergh in Paris after his successful New York to Paris Atlantic crossing in 1927.  

(A little historical tidbit for the week)

bon weekend

Le Café Hortense

5, rue Paul Cezanne

75008, Paris

Les toits de Chartres

from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

On the ascent to the top of the Bell Tower

A variety of architecture, rooftops, and layout of the city

can be seen from our ascent at the half-way point to the top of the Bell Tower.

The steps were worn smooth and a tight spiral shared by those going up and those going down.  We only encountered a few in either direction.  It is a bit dizzying.

If I had shown this photo in black and white you would have missed the fields of rape seed (canola) in the far horizon.  As we made the quick trip on the train, the bright yellow provided blocks of color as we zipped along.

Chartres, France

96 km southwest of Paris

an easy day-trip by train

Les Vélibs

Try it!

Well, Holly has a big smile because we were having so much fun riding around Paris on the Vélibs.  The cost can be a little as $2.20 to ride for the day.  If you return your bike to one of the 1,800 stations within 30 minutes, there is no additional charge.  We rode for two days all over Paris, mixing it up with the traffic.  On my recent trip, I spent one day riding alone, crossing the Seine bridges and riding as far as Jardin des Plantes from the 2ème.

There are 20,000 bikes ready to ride, waiting on you.  Check out the site here.

If you are hesitant, start away from congested traffic areas (Place Charles de Gaule for sure!) 

On our first 30-minute ride we bumped across the cobblestones of Champs Elysées, passed between Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and then crossed Pont Alexandre III.  What a rush!  

(Learn the words - It will make you feel so cool - 

do not forget to ring the little bell as you sing, too)

Je m' baladais sur l' avenue
Le coeur ouvert à l' inconnu
J' avais envie de dire bonjour
A n' importe qui

N' importe qui et ce fut toi
Je t' ai dit n' importe quoi
Il suffisait de te parler
Pour t' apprivoiser

Aux Champs-Elysées
Aux Champs-Elysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
A midi ou à minuit
Il y a tout c' que vous voulez
Aux Champs-Elysées!

Les rues du 15ième

75015, Paris

Le Printemps, Palais Garnier, et les toits de Paris

Taken from the rooftop of Printemps, 

one can see the two towers of Printemps, 

the magnificence of Palais Garnier, 

and many familiar outlines of Paris buildings.  

Oh, you will always see many cranes obliterating the skyline.

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Le Baron Rouge - un bar à vin

Le Baron Rouge

This suspended rack of wine glasses gives the illusion of a chandelier.  

In addition to oysters, 

you can bring your own container 

and buy wine right from the barrel.

Put Le Baron Rouge on your list. 

Le Baron Rouge, wine bar

1, rue Théophile Roussel

75012, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Last Sunday's post of Notre Dame was a night view

 of the east side of this great cathedral.  

I thought that you might like to see 

the same perspective under blue skies.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Fête de la Musique - Place de Furstenberg

Fête de la Musique 2010

The guitarist

Perhaps one of thousands of musicians, 

the solo guitarist performed in the late afternoon in Place de Furstenberg, 

only steps from Eugène Delacroix' apartment (1857).  

Virginia, Marie and I encountered this guitarist in the quiet street 

and gave him our full attention.  

He willingly agreed to our photo shoot.

Place de Furstenberg

75006, Paris

Métro Mabillon

Fête de la Musique - solstice d'été

Summer Solstice

So what does the solstice d'été have to do with music?  In Paris and many parts of France the summer solstice is accompanied by a grand celebration of music, with all genres and forms.  You can visit the churches for special concerts, listen to street musicians in the squares and gardens.  The cafés have jazz quartets and pop music and everything in between.  The music begins early and extends to the wee hours of the morning.

"The musicians are asked to perform for free, and all the concerts are free for the public. It’s the reason why they are used to play in open air areas as streets and parks or in public buildings like museums, train stations, castles… Furthermore, the Fête de la Musique is a way to encourage the major music institutions (orchestra, operas, choirs, etc.) to perform outside their usual locations." (official site here)

This photo was taken of the "piano man" on June 21, 2010, Fête de la Musique, a wonderful day spent with friends soaking up beautiful weather and a variety of music.  

Wish I was there today.

Pont Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

Rue Auber - le serveur

A cafe on Rue Auber


A classic street scene in any part of Paris.  
This cafe is just around the corner from Cafe de la Paix 
and probably not as expensive.  


You still get a great view of Palais Garnier 
from this sidewalk terrace.

Rue Auber at Palais Garnier

75009, Paris

Jardin des Tuileries - les enfants dans le parc

Jardin des Tuileries

A Sunday afternoon finds many children in the parks of Paris.  These two were part of a group of five or six who played a game of soccer with imaginary boundaries.  They were not daunted by the scattering of puddles left by the recent rain.

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal - des étirements

Jardin du Palais Royal

Some stretches before a run.  

How did she ever tear herself away 

from the mesmerizing view of that incredible fountain?

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Le Valentin - salon de thé

Le Valentin - salon de thé

The heat of the teapots was surpassed by the warmth of friendship.  

How wonderful to meet two friends face to face.

Le Valentin

30, Passage Jouffroy

75009, Paris

 

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Perhaps more recognizable from the other side, 

the majestic details of this view are my favorite.  

In the summer months you might even find it deserted 

very early in the day or very late at night.

It is worth losing an hour's sleep to have this scene to yourself.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Palais Garnier - The Grand Foyer

The Grand Foyer

When I see the Grand Foyer, 

my eyes mist over with a scene of ballgowns 

and the sounds of the orchestra.  

Perhaps tonight the phantom will appear.

Palais Garnier
Place de l'Opéra
75009, Paris

Passy - art et les ombres

Art and the shadows

It seemed that the sun appeared at just the right moment 

to capture this shot.

bon weekend

Rue Paul Doumer

75016, Paris

Rue de Birague - Marais

Rue de Birague

One of the entry streets to Place des Vosges

Peering in the window to get a look beyond the street view, 

one finds a collection of old and new, natural and fabricated... 

eclectically pleasing to the eye.

Rue de Birague

75004, Paris

Bercy Village - Cour St. Émilion

Cour Saint-Émilion

Bercy Village consists largely of small wine warehouses from the late 19th century.  The tracks seen in the paved courtyard above were originally used to transport barrels of wine in and out of the warehouses.  For more than a century and up until 1960, the Bercy neighborhood was a vast wine market.

Although some may complain that this has become a tourist attraction with its shops, bars, and restaurants, the architecture has been preserved (along with the rail tracks), and it has the feel of a historic village.  It is at the southeast end of Le Parc de Bercy and is easily accessed by Line 14, Métro Cour St. Émilion.

Cour Saint-Émilion

Bercy Village

75012, Paris

Place des Pyramides - Rue de Rivoli

Rue de Rivoli

The tourists making their way to the Louvre, 

the delivery truck workers, Parisians walking to work... 

all the activity of this busy street 

does not distract the couple enjoying a morning café.

If this were a quiz, 

you would surely be able to spot so many details: 

different lanterns, the Hotel Regina signs, 

reflections in the windows, 

Joan of Arc statue (sculpture by Emmanuel Frémiet), 

flags of different sorts, and the list goes on.

Place des Pyramides

Rue de Rivoli

75001, Paris

Square Gabriel-Pierné - un banc

Square Gabriel-Pierné

A bench of books

This little pocket of a park just behind Institut de France 

was named for Henri Gabriel-Pierné, 

a French composer, conductor, and organist who died in 1937.

There are some interesting features of this park 

and the bench made of books is my favorite.  

How clever a sculpture for public use 

and I do not even know the artist's name.

(a bench for Malyss)

Square Gavriel-Pierné

75006, Paris

Église Saint-Merri

Église Saint-Merri

This church was constructed between 1500 and 1550 

in a style called "Gothic flamboyant."  

Surviving the French Revolution is the oldest bell in Paris, 

cast in 1331.  (That is not a typo... 1331!!)

This church was reported as a site of the 1832 barricades 

fighting in a republican uprising against the July Monarchy.  

I will be going back to my unabridged Les Miserables to look for clues.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Merri

76, rue de la Verrerie

75004, Paris

Palais Garnier - caryatids

Les caryatids

One of the rear entrances to Palais Garnier,

a rather ornate back door, oui?

bon weekend

Palais Garnier

Rue Scribe

75009, Paris

Joséphine Vannier - une guitare au chocolat

Chocolaterie Joséphine Vannier

A chocolate guitar?

Yes, what a birthday gift that would be...

I only looked in from the street 

but the reports on this chocolate shop indicate 

that the displays are eye-catching and clever, 

but the star performers are the delicious individually-dipped chocolates.

Now on the other side of the ocean from this chocolaterie, 

I am yearning for just one.  

Tant pis pour moi.

Joséphine Vannier

4, rue du Pas de la Mule

75003, Paris

Rue Daubenton - les fleurs et les fruits

Rue Daubenton

The grill of such interesting design and the boxes of flowers 

might have been missed but 

the white background of window shutters 

provided a lovely backdrop.

I got off of my Velib to take this photo

 as I am not steady enough 

to ride without hands while I click and shoot.

C'est vrai!

Rue Daubenton

75005, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal - un skateboard

The Fountain at Palais Royal

This wide bowl of water with active fountains is not just for the retirees of Paris to prop their feet.  This twenty-something was reading, taking a moment to enjoy the quiet of the early morning.  He had the fountain to himself.

zoom-zoom

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Le Bon Marché - le carrousel

Square Boucicaut

le carrousel

Almost hidden in the shadow of Le Bon Marché, 

sits this vintage carousel.  

Alas, it was too early in the morning for little passengers, 

but by the afternoon it will be full.

Le Bon Marché

Square Boucicaut

24, rue de Sèvres

75007, Paris

Rue des Thermopyles - de l'autre côté

Rue des Thermopyles

After using a shot of this street for June CDP Theme Day's "decay," 

it seemed appropriate to show you the charming side of this street.  

It is quiet with well-manered cats wearing collars, 

green plants and herbs, window boxes, 

bicycles parked for cat-pedestals, and no cars allowed.  

This photo was taken in the fall 

and these vines should now be full of leaves and blooms.

(for Danielle of VenetiaMicio)

Rue des Thermopyles

75014, Paris

Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires - en réflexion

Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires

In the small, quiet Place des Petits-Pères 

sits the regal Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires, 

one of the ten minor basilicas in the Île-de-France region.

Our sunny day of arrival in Paris 

created a reflection amidst the orchids.

bon dimanche

Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires
6, rue Notre Dame des Victoires
75002, Paris

joyeux anniversaire, Alisa

Rue des Thermopyles - un rue qui se délabre

a decaying street

This small street outside the normal haunts of tourists 

has fallen into ruin but the quiet beauty captured me still

Rue des Thermopyles

75014, Paris

The City Daily Photo members are featuring "the beauty of decay" 

for theme day this month.  See the other entries here.