A WALKING TOUR
PARIS
Sketches of the citys architectural treasures...
Journey through the urban landscape of Paris
Gregory Byrne Bracken
Marshall Cavendish
Editions
Copyright 2012 G. Byrne Bracken
All text and illustrations by G. Byrne Bracken
Editor: Stephanie Yeo
Designer: Benson Tan
Published in 2012 by Marshall Cavendish Business
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This book is dedicated to Johann and Nol Wilbrenninck.
Contents
WALKS
Acknowledgments
I would like first of all to thank Melvin Neo and Martin Liu at
Marshall Cavendish for their wonderful support on this project. Also
the editor Stephanie Yeo and the designer Benson Tan who do such
hard work in making these books as good as they are. Thanks also to
Robert Cortlever, Cathinca Cortlever and Jasper Folmer for being such
pleasant companions on the first of my research trips to Paris, and
my mother, Maura Bracken, for the second. In fact thanks go to both
my mother and my father, Brendan Bracken, for allowing me the
chance to go to school in Paris all those years ago; the time I spent
at College Franklin (St Louis de Gonzague) was magical.
My heartiest thanks must go to Johann and Nol Wilbrenninck for all
the extra titbits of fascinating information they gave, and the warm
welcome every time I get to see them at home in France. Thanks
also to Patrick Healy for his excellent tips and suggestions, as on all
my various projects, your advice is invaluable. And a big thank you
to the Delft School of Design, particularly Arie Graafland and Deborah
Hauptmann, and the International Institute for Asian Studies in
Leiden, especially Manon Osseweijer and Philippe Peycam, without
whom I could do none of this work. I would also like to thank Jan
Beer for telling me the history of the term bistrot, and Casper van
der Kruk for the Castel Brenger/Dranger anecdote.
Suggested Itineraries
Historical
The Islands
Le Marais
Latin Quarter
Jardin des Plantes
Cultural
Le Marais
Beaubourg
Tuileries
Latin Quarter
Opra
Montmartre
Shopping
Le Marais
Tuileries
St-Germain-des-Prs
Champs-Elyses
Opra
Markets
The Islands
Opra
Further Afield
Nightlife
St-Germain-des-Prs
Champs-Elyses
Opra
Montmartre
Childrens
Tuileries
Jardin des Plantes
Montparnasse
Trocadro
Further Afield
Introduction
As a city, Paris needs no introduction. Beloved of artists, writers and thinkers, not to mention lovers, it is as famous for its fashion as its food both of which are world class and of course its art and architecture. Paris is full of wonderful places to experience: from the magnificence of the Louvre and the Muse dOrsay to tiny little museums dedicated to artists and writers dotted throughout the city, such as the Muse Gustave Moreau or the Muse Zadkine. The city is also home to ancient Roman ruins, with Roman baths at Cluny and the Arnes de Lutce, an arena where gladiators fought to the death.
Paris is justifiably famous for its Gothic architecture, including some of the masterpieces of the style, including Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Sainte-Chapelle. Then there are the stunning htels particuliers , aristocratic town houses, such as the Htel de Lauzun or the Htel de Soubise, many of which are open to the public to catch a glimpse of life as an aristocrat before the French Revolution. Paris is also home to cutting-edge modern architecture, with the Pompidou Centre and La Villette as well as, of course, the world-famous Pyramid of the Louvre.
The city is also surprisingly green, with numerous parks and squares, including the delightful Jardin du Luxembourg and the Tuileries, not to mention the famous tree-lined boulevards laid out by Baron Haussmann in the 19th century. Avenue de lOpra and the Champs-Elyses are thronged with flneurs wanting to see and be seen. For a birds-eye view, climb the Eiffel Tower, where you can take in the entire city spread out beneath your feet. You can also enjoy spectacular views from the soaring Tour Montparnasse or from Sacr-Coeur in Montmartre.
The walks in this book have been arranged according to the different city districts, such as the Latin Quarter or the Opra. Each one starts where the previous one left off, and there are 14 in all. Starting at the historical islands at the centre of Paris, they work their way around the various neighbourhoods to end in Montmartre. There is also a Further Afield chapter which takes in the buildings and places that fall a little outside the city centre. This is followed by a chapter which explains the various architectural styles mentioned in the book, and a listings section that includes contact details, there is also a glossary of architectural terms. Finally, there is even a short introduction to the French language to help you on your way.