History

Immersing in the romantic allure of the city of lights exposed me to experiencing a rich tapestry of Parian history, art, and culture. Granting me an unforgettable exploration of Paris. It yielded many delights, from charming cafes to iconic landmarks.

As we headed to Île de la Cité , Saint Chappell, Norte-Dame and Strolling through Latin Quarter via the Metro, our first experience of the Metro came with navigating the cars to spread out so all the members of the tour were able to get on and off at the same time. We can see Virginie giving the group and orientation on how the Parian Metro's work. We learned to read the maps in the Metro to get around Paris once the tour for the day ended.

Our time on Pont Neuf bridge help to reveal the mysteries and turmoil's Parians endured while early development of Paris began. Not only was this experience life changing. It open my eyes to see the depth of the deeply rooted sense of family in the city's rich history, culture, and a strong emphasis on appreciating the simple pleasures of life. The "joie de vivre" (the joy of living) and taking up the old pastime of simple walking to enjoy the surrounding and people. The richness of Virginie's explanations helped to encapsulate the early stages of Paris from the a more fundamental stand point.

Our morning compute began with the metro ride from École militaire Line 8 to Line 4 and we disembarked at Cité station on Île de la Cité.

Île de la Cité - Virginie enlightened the group with a brief history of Paris and when development began, as the Île de la Cité by Parisians in the 4th century. I could still hear Virginie mentioning the name Clovis I, the first King of the Franks, from 481 - 511 and established his palace on the island.

Pont Neuf - This bridge, depicted in a famous painting by Renoir, is the oldest remaining bridge in Paris. In 1585, work began on the Pont Neuf at the far west end of the island once the kings departed the island and it became the courts and tribunals as well as home to the Conciergerie.

Marie de Médicis, commissioned statue for her husband, King Henry IV of France.

Here we're standing outside of the royal court where Sainte Chapell is located. It was astonishing to see the Cathedral in the in the courtyard of the royal palace on the Île de la Cité.

As we continued our walk, we were told of the history of the different building on the island. One in particular was the Saint Chappell Cathedral. It was such a wonder to see. Knowing the cathedral was built in the between 1242 to 1248, I was in awe of the preservation and training of other to maintain the structural integrity Cathedral.

Upper Chappell where the books of the Bible are depicted in the stain glass windows. Over 2/3 of the stain glass are original and depicts over 1100 scene from the Bible.

As you enter, you notice there are no sits in the Cathedral. At the time, because the royal Cathedral was primary designed by King Louis the IX to house sacred relics. The Crown of Thornes were housed in Saint Chappell from the 13th Century until the French Revolution and then moved to Notre-Dame, where it was returned after the opening and the Crown of Thorns are only on display the first Friday of every month and every Friday during Lent.

Palais de Justice de Paris

The Conciergerie Clock: France's first public clock.

Nortre-Dame - the most iconic Cathedral in all the world. This is the sixth day prior to the Re-opening ceremony, which took place on December 8, 2024 - 8 décembre 2024.

Admiring Notre-Dame across the Seine River.

Another view of Notre-Dame from the Seine River.

Browsing the Browsing the Bouquinistes of Paris.

Functional Wallace Fountain in front of the famous Shakespeare and Company Bookstore.

Shakespeare and Company - The store is a true gem. When you walk inside, you could get lost in the smell of books and history and many rooms inside of the bookstore. To know inside the doors, many literary scholars have walked the rooms and as George Whitman is quoted saying, "I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations."

Oldest Tree in Paris - The tree was first planted in 1601, more than 400 years ago. Jean Robin, a well known botanist and doctor, brought many exotic plants back to Europe from his travels in the French American colonies.

Saint-Michel Fountain - The Fontaine Saint-Michel is a famous fountain in Paris and featured in the Netflix series Emily in Paris.

After experiencing Paris past, we venture to the luxurious 8th Arrondissement on Champs-Élysées and Montaigne Avenue. Since it was the beginning of December, the Christmas decorations were amazing. Christmas in Paris was truly a delight and I would do it again. Even the evenings were magical. The Parian evenings were a joy to stroll and only 25 minutes from the hotel and Eiffel Tower on foot and 15 minutes ride on the Metro.

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History

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