I spend much of my time reading through the 1001 Children's Books I Must Read Before I Grow Up. While I'm not planning on slavishly following the 1001 suggestions from this book, I thought it would be fun to check out the Paris selections. To see how many I've already seen, and build up some suggestions for more visits of course.
Apartments, 26, rue Vavin 1913
Arc de Triomphe1836
Basilique du Sacre Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ) 1919
Bibliotheque Francois-Mitterand 1995
Castel Beranger 1898
Centre Pompidou 1977
Charles de Gaulle Airport 1974
Flower Tower (Maison Vegetale) 2004
Le Grand Rex 1932
La Grande Arche de la Defense 1990
Hotel Guimard 1912
Hotel de Soubise 1709
Institut du Monde Arabe 1987
La Ruche Studios (The Beehive) 1900
La Sainte Chapelle 1248
Pyramide, Le Grand Louvre 1989
The Madeleine (Church of St Mary Magdalene) 1842
Maison de Verre 1932
Musee d'Orsay 1987
Notre Dame de Paris 1330
Opera de la Bastille 1989
Palais Garnier 1875
Pantheon 1793
Paris Great Mosque 1926
Musee du Quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum) 2006
Rue Franklin Apartments 1904
Theatre des Champs Elysees 1913
Van Doesburg House 1930
Villa Savoye 1929
Whilst I'm not the biggest fan of architecture per se, visiting some of those buildings and monuments were the highlights of my two visits to Paris.
Arc de Triomphe
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| Essential for any trip to Paris, make sure you go up to the top- the views are sensational |
Notre Dame de Paris
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| I've visited several times now, but there is always more to see and I still haven't made it up to the roof... |
Sainte Chapelle
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| It's impossible to describe the beauty of this experience, my 9 year old was moved to take pictures for the first time ever |
Palais Garnier
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| We stayed nearby, and saw her in many lights and moods, a glorious sight at the end of the rue |
Pantheon
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| Such an extraordinary building, not just beautiful, but important too as a mausoleum for important French figures and the home of Foucault's Pendulum |
These buildings are Paris to me. Of course there are some notable omissions. Where is La Tour Eiffel? The Louvre itself, not just the Pyramid? The Conciergerie? The Grand Palais? Of course they can't list every house or public building in Paris. I do think that I would have excluded Charles de Gaulle airport. Sure I've been there, many of the visitors to Paris come through there naturally, but is it worthwhile architecture, or is it just ugly 1970s concrete construction?
And what for next year? I'm very keen to visit La Grande Mosquee. I will need to see the Centre Pompidou at long last, I don't think I can avoid it forever. I've never even walked past. That's one of the great things about Paris, there is SO much to see and do. Every Metro stops opens up another world, every street corner and laneway takes you somewhere else that is extraordinary.
Paris in July is cohosted by Karen at BookBath
and Tamara at Thyme for Tea
My favorite of all those is Sainte Chappelle. I gasp with every visit -- and the Opera Garnier. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit to Marmelade Gypsy and all your wonderful comments! I am so enjoying discovering new blogs on this 'tour'!
The gilding on the Opera is amazing, isn't it? I love the view of it from the rooftop terrace of the department store opposite. (I think I'd leave the airport off too, mostly because I've never had a good experience in there!)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a marvelous book! I'd like to take it on a trip to Paris!
ReplyDeleteHi Louise,
ReplyDeleteEven though we only live just over the channel, in the South of the UK, I have to admit that I have only ever been to France twice, both times to Paris, but both times with work, so we didn't get to do much sightseeing.
The only vivid memory I have of my trips (which were both many years ago), is of taking our car over on the ferry and being met by a Frenchman from the company we were visiting, who proceeded to ask us to follow him through the City centre. Not being used to the precarious driving practices of the locals, we became separated at the roundabout junction surrounding the 'Arc de Triomphe'. Not to worry though, we spotted him immediately, stood on top of his car, which he had stopped right in the middle of the four lane roundabout, holding up some very disgruntled drivers. !!
Welcome To Paris !!
Lovely post, brought back some great memories,
Yvonne
I think Saint Chappelle is the one that I know that I must go and see should I ever make it to Paris again. It just looks so amazing!
ReplyDeleteI want to go back to Paris! We had such a wonderful time there last summer but we just scratched the surface. What a beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteI've just come home from a trip (a real trip...not a "Paris in July" trip) to Chicago. One of the things we did was the Architecture Boat Tour. This little tour down the Chicago River fed my interest in architecture. And now you share this 1001 book. Serendipitous. Off to see if I can find a copy.
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