Églises Interior - Église Saint-Médard

I love the way the sun is shining in above the altar, just above the cross, which looks like a sun. It gives the Église Saint-Médard the feeling of being blessed or lighted.

Églises Interior - Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

Here is the interior of the Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont seen on this blog on October 17th. Sorry this one is a bit blurry, you can see more here. It's beautiful!

Églises Interior - Saint-Sulpice

The second-largest church in Paris (after Notre-Dame), Saint-Sulpice is a sight to behold. The pulpit, which can be seen here is particularly impressive, though the ceiling as seen above is amazing in its own right.

Misc Redeux - Arch of Triumph, Unknown

I have no idea what to say about this photo. This is a triumphal arch somewhere in Paris. It was another, "walk around a corner and see something cool but have no idea what it is" moment in Paris.

I think we were in the Marais, near a park near the Musée des Arts et Métiers, but I could be totally wrong. If you know what this arch is, please comment, I am dying to know!

Églises - Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre

The second oldest church in Paris (the oldest is St-Germain-des-Prés) Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre 
is a Melkite Greek Catholic parish church built in the 13th Century. It is right next to another Paris landmark, Shakespeare & Company.

Églises - Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

A Gothic-style church near The Panthéon (which was closed when we were there), I think this is the church that turned things around for me. At first I didn't understand my (non-religious) friend's obsession with going in every church we happened upon. But going inside this one changed my mind. You can see why here. Gorgeous!

Églises - Église Saint-Augustin de Paris

This week the theme is churches. There are so many beautiful old churches in Paris and we went into many of them on this last trip to Paris.

At first I was not sure about this. My friend who I traveled with is not religious, but he wanted to go into every single church we passed. Having parted ways with the Catholic Church myself in the past few years it made me uncomfortable at first and I thought about hanging back, but they always enticed me and before I knew it, I was going in every one.

This one is the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris, the church which has this statue of Joan of Arc out front.

Portes - Champs-Élysées

A very, very old door with mail slot on the Champs-Élysées.

Portes - 16 rue Charlot

This is the door at 16 rue Charlot. I remember this door from when I was an au pair in Paris in the 1990's. I used to walk by it on my way to my French classes. It was a delight to run into it again on this trip.

I fear it may not be there on my next trip, however, as it is not visible in this street view of 16 rue Charlot.

Portes - Chez Nous

This week, Doors....The doors in Paris are heavier, sturdier and work differently than doors in the U.S. They have skeleton keys and automatic locks. It's hard to explain, but they are just different, kinda like Paris. This one is the door to the appartement that we rented for the week.

Arc de Triomphe - Plans de Arc

Here is an architectural schematic of the Arc I thought was kind of neat. Plus a video that gives you the "inside scoop."

Les Cafés - Le Café Maure de la Mosquée

This week: Les Cafés! What would a trip to Paris be without some time spent sipping espresso in some of the world's finest cafés?

Following on from last week, we start at Le Café Maure de la Mosquée, a North African café and tea room located within La Grande Mosquée de Paris. It serves wonderful traditional pastries and delicious mint tea.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris - Mosquée Comme Perchoir

A pigeon roosting in one of the outside walls of La Grande Mosquée de Paris.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris - Mosaic

One of many beautiful mosaics on the wall of La Grande Mosquée de Paris.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris - Hall d'Entrée II

An alternate view of the entrance hall of La Grande Mosquée de Paris.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris - Hall d'Entrée

The main entrance hall of La Grande Mosquée de Paris.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris - Entrée

Following on from the Architecture theme of last week, this week: La Grande Mosquée de Paris. Founded in 1926 as a token of gratitude to the Muslim infantry, some 100,000 of whom died fighting against the Germans in World War I, many portions of the Mosque are open to the public, including the traditional Turkish baths (hammam), gift shop (souk) and tea room (salon de thé).

Architecture - Pont Saint Michel

Pont Saint Michel is one of many bridges (ponts) across the Seine which you cross under while riding Les Bateaux Mouches, as I was when I snapped this picture. Pont Saint Michel links Place Saint-Michel on the left bank of the river to the Île de la Cité. It was named after the nearby chapel of Saint-Michel. Click here for a positively gorgeous shot of the whole bridge.

Architecture - La Place des Vosges

One of the first "planned communities" in the world, Place des Vosges was designed in the early 17th century under the reign of King Henri IV. It is one of the "not to be missed" sites in the Marais district of Paris. The Place includes beautiful fountains and lawns in the square, a café (Ma Bourgogne), and a free museum (Victor Hugo's former home at #6).

Architecture - La Gare

This week, a few of the architectural wonders of Paris. I came across this station (gare) when I was walking to the Musée Marmottan Monet in the 16th arrondissment. Formerly the Gare de Passy La Muette, it is now a restaurant called - wait for it - La Gare.

[A bit late posting today because of the holiday weekend. Hope yours was enjoyable!]