Vic's Thoughts on Paris

And now, here's a few thoughts about Paris from my long-time, very dear friend and traveling companion, Vickie Fennell Smith.

Our Atlanta condo was built in 1969 and is, by local standards, “old.” What strikes me most about traveling through Europe is just how “OLD” everything is. The history, the architecture and the art, all so rich, beautiful, (in some cases creepy) and, yes, “OLD” that it takes my breath away.

Sainte-Chapelle, Lisa’s favorite of our adventures, commissioned by King Louis IX to house his collection of Passion relics, was dedicated into service in 1248. Now that’s OLD.

The Place des Vosges, built by Henri IV between 1605 and 1612, became the home of Cardinal Richelieu (and his mistress) from 1615 - 1627, as well as Victor Hugo in the early 1800’s. On this site in 1559, ill-fitting armor was blamed for the death of King Henri II who was mortally wounded in a jousting tournament.

Pont Alexandre III, the most ornate and extravagant bridge in Paris was finished in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle World’s Fair. Pont Neuf or the “New Bridge” connecting the city center to the Ile de la Cite’, is actually the oldest bridge in Paris and was built between 1578 and 1607.

In the 1770’s, the city’s underground Lutetian limestone mines were converted into an ossuary to eliminate the city’s overflowing cemeteries, and the remains of more than 6 million people were moved here mostly under the cover of night.

Musee d’Orsay, my favorite of the Paris museums, is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay railway station built between 1898 and 1900, and holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. Its many rooms and halls contain the works of Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

Ahhhh….Paris. Old. Breathtaking.

p.s. - Don't forget to check out Lesa's piece on Paris today at her place - https://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2017/10/tuesday-in-paris-sept-26.html