Place : Paris - Latin Quarter
Date: Oct' 6h/ 2019
The first Sunday of each new month, we discovered, is a Free Entrance Day, to many museums in Paris. So with many other tourists and locals, we had shown up, first at the closer ones within a walking distance from the hotel, they were not that crowded, and later in the afternoon, at a further one, which was absolutely mobbed.
Museum de Cluny - of the Middle Ages
It is a wonderful museum, though unfortunately half of it is currently close to the public, due to renovations.
The structure - a mansion of the 13th c - Cluny hotel (built by the abbots -Order of Cluny of Burgundy and rebuilt in 1510), is located in the heart of the Latin quarter. It has one of the world's largest collections of medieval artifacts and works, including the famous amazing
"Lady and the Unico thern" tapestries, illustrating the 5 senses + one of love ( equivalent to the Mona Lisa of tapestries). Adjacent to the museum are also remains of II c Roman Thermal Baths .
Crossing the river, over the St Michel bridge to the Il de la cite, in the middle of the Saine, brought us to the next destination:
Saint Chapel and the Conciergerie (dungeon)
Sainte Chapelle within the Palais de la Cite comlex
The Gothic royal chapel structure from 1238 within the medieval Palais de la Cité, - (the residence of the Kings of France from the 6c until the 14th , on the Île de la Cité. From the 14th century until the French Revolution, it was the headquarters of the French treasury, judicial system and the Parlement of Paris, an assembly of nobles), is stunning from the interior, due to its colourful
ceilings and high 13th-c stained glass windows. Although damaged during the French Revolution, and restored in the 19th century, it has one of the most extensive glass collections anywhere in the world.
The Holy Chapelle was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion relics, including Christ's Crown of Thorns – one of the most important relics in medieval Christendom.
Along with the Conciergerie, the Sainte-Chapelle is one of the earliest surviving buildings of the Capetian royal palace.
Formerly a prison but presently used mostly for law courts, it was part of the former royal palace. Its huge halls and cells now serve as a museum, detailing the revolution's bloody history of the Reign of Terror.
Hundreds of prisoners during the French Revolution were taken from the Conciergerie to be executed by guillotine at a number of locations around Paris. Marie Antoinette - the last queen of France (yes the one that instructed the starving people to eat cakes if there is a shortage of bread), was one of the famous prisoners kept here.
Although we were recharged by these useful French history (and French have the audacity to moralize Israel), the pressing need to check-out of the hotel, and move into the flat, we rented (thanks to the help of our dear friend Ora), compelled us to take the necessary brake, in the middle of the day.
The apartment we rented is fantastic, well kept and decorated with beautiful art. It is situated in a great location (off the Monge Blvd, and nearby the Rue de Mouffetard - Market St, and open air Monge Marget ). Around the corner from the impressive apartment building, there is "Censier-Daubento"n Metro Station, and at the same corner, bus # 47 rides all across Monge ave until St. Germain Ave.
It actually has two bedrooms and a very spacious living room, which
is a true blessing after the tiny "confinement" size rooms of the typical small French hotels. We really lucked out this time.
Once we settled at the new place, and gave some rest to our over walked aching feet, we returned to the "free entrance" museum scene, and joined the longest line of lucky free loaders, who managed to get in, before the closing hour, to see the Edgar Degas special exhibit at the d'Orsay Musee.
For the 350th anniversary of the Paris Opera, works by Edgar Degas inspired by his work with artists and dancers from the Opera are exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay, featuring various paintings, drawings, sculptures and pastels by the artist, including iconic works such as The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer,
I was so relieved, and not because of hunger, when we finally took our sit for early dinner, after walking back along the scenic Seine, from the museum, passed the famous 1568 oldest stone bridge in Paris "Pont de Neuf" with the equestrian statue of Henri IV the king who ordered its construction, all the way to "rue de l'Ancienne Comedie" which bears the name after the first French theatre located on this street, and which for years hosted premières by Racine and Molière.
Food bites...
The ambiance at this historic quaint "Procope Cafe" situated at rue de l'Ancienne Comedie, and which reminded us of the London's "Rule's Restaurant, or Moskva's Pushkin Cafe, definitely justifies one eating experience there, though, not that much the food, nor the service.
The Best Markets in the Latin Quarter you may want to know off
• MONGE Place Monge (near our rental)
Wednesday & Friday 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM; Sunday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• RUE MOUFFETARD
- down the hill from the Pantheon
Every day except Monday and half-day Sunday.
• MAUBERT Place Maubert
Tuesday & Thursday, 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM; Saturday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• PORT-ROYAL
Along Val de Grace Hospital, on Boulevard Port Royal
Tuesday & Thursday, 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM; Saturday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
A RUE MOUFFETARD store full of HONEY for the NEW YEAR
To be continued....
Σχόλια