Place Vendôme is a fabulous place to visit in Paris. Smack bang in the middle of the luxury shopping area in the First, it is loaded with exclusive outlets of the worlds top brands. You can't walk around quickly as the window displays are too enticing. Place Vendôme is also home to the Ritz Paris, which has been closed for several years now for a major refurbishment. I enjoyed a particularly lovely lunch there in 1998.
On a visit in 2013 there was preservation work taking place on the iconic Vendôme Column (Colonne de la Grande Armée). This column has a fascinating history of its own- commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, it is said to be made from captured cannons. When we were in Paris in 2013 they were cleaning the column.
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| Hand cleaning it with paintbrushes! |
I don't know how long it took to clean such a huge column with a set of paintbrushes. That same visit I also saw them cleaning the gorgeous Pont Alexandre III with a paintbrush.
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9 comments:
Thank you for leaving a comment on my Paris in July intentions, and especially pointing me to your post in Sarah Turnbull. I left a comment there, in case you didn't see it.
I haven't been to Paris since 2000, when I bought my wedding dress there and the American dollar was quite strong. I long to return, and your pictures give me a virtual "vacance" to that most beautiful of cities.
The next time I go to Paris, I must stop by your blog to gather all the info on places to visit, things to see, and food to eat. I admit I missed a lot the last couple of times. Have you been to the Marais District? That's where My Old Lady was filmed. Kevin Kline mentioned in the after screening interview that KST lived so close to the filming location that she practically walked to work when making that movie.
Wow that looks an immense job - how fascinating, though, to be able to see it in that much detail. Amazing.
I do love watching ordinary processes, like cleaning. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
Sounds like a tedious job, but it must be the best way to preserve the column. I wouldn't want that job.
Before I go to Paris, I'm going to reread all your posts so I won't miss the most important parts.
Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Look at the detail. It makes me happy to see all the careful work that went into cleaning the column.
Hand-cleaning with paintbrushes? WOW! That must have been a sight to see.
It IS a wonderful spot! I can't imagine having to clean it, though -- way up there!
It certainly puts cleaning the house into perspective! Love the pictures
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