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Opera Garnier
The Opera Garnier was the 'piece de resistance' of Napoleon III and
Baron Haussmann. Its opulence, inside and out, its mixture of architectural
styles, its red and gold decor some may think a little flamboyant,
but for all that, it is magnificent. It was once the world's largest
theater and is famed for its 6-ton chandelier and Chagall painted
ceiling depicting Parisian scenes and images from opera. Backstage
is the Foyer de la Danse so often painted by Degas and beneath the
cellars there lies an artificial lake, providing water for the city's
fire brigade, that was the fictional grotto of Lerous' Phantom of
the Opera. The Opera Garnier mainly stages ballets now days, operas
which have moved to the Opera Bastille.
Place de Vendome
This classically elegant square built in 1685 has a 44 meter high
column with a crowning sculpture of Napoleon as Caeser, although this
has changed several times. It is home to the world's most opulent
jewelers and the legendary Ritz Hotel, a favorite haunt of the famous,
such as Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Proust, and Chanel.
Blvd des Italiens
The Boulevard des Italiens became very fashionable in the middle
of the 19th century. It was lined with cafes and restaurants which
the 'beau monde' frequented, #22 Cafe Tortoni, #20 Maison Doree,
the meeting place for fashionable Paris, No. 16 Cafe Riche. The
boulevard got its name from the Opera-Comique, which was commonly
called 'the Italiens'. Cafe de la Paix is the quintessential 19th
century cafe and was designed by the same architect, Garnier, as
the Opera. It was a frequent haunt of Oscar Wilde. Nearby in Rue
Scribe, where the Hotel Scribe now stands, used to be the exclusive
Jockey Club and it was here the Lumiere brothers held the world's
first public cinema screening in 1895. L'Olympia Music Hall, in
bd. Des Capucines was where Edith Piaf achieved fame, and it is
still an important venue for pop stars.
La Madeleine
The building of the Madeleine Church, named for Mary Magdalene, began
in 1763 but was not finished until 1842. The famous Maxim's restaurant
is nearby on the rue Royale and on the square of the Madeleine are
two famous specialty food stores; Fauchon and Hediard's.
Department Stores
Blvd. Haussmann is the home of the department stores Au Printemps,
opened in 1864, and Galeries Lafayette, opened in 1894. Galeries
Lafayette has a magnificent stained glass dome. It carries all
the great fashion names, and has great (free) fashion shows each
week. It is always very busy so best to go in the morning. There
is a a nice self-service restaurant on the 6th floor with views
over the Opera. Au Printemps also has a weekly fashion show which
is held in the 6th floor tea salon beneath a Belle Epoque blue
stained-glass rotunda.
The Palais Royal & Gardens
The Palais
Royal was constructed for Cardinal Richelieu in 1628.
On the southwest corner is the Comedie Francaise and on the northwest
corner is the 4-star 'Grand Vefour', an haute cuisine restaurant
since the 1760s. The Palais Royal was home to Colette and Jean
Cocteau.
Jardin des Tuilleries
The Tuileries Gardens were designed by Andre Le Notre in 1664
and is one of the largest parks in Paris. It is bordered by the
Louvre, Rue de Rivoli and, at the western end, the Orangerie and
the Jeu de Paume. The Orangerie houses Monet's magnificent 'Nympheas'
series of paintings of water-lilies which were painted at Giverny
and donated to the nation by the artist as a 'spiritual testimony'.
It also houses other great Impressionist and 'Ecole de Paris'
artists. It is undergoing a major re-haul at the moment. The Jeu
de Paume holds special exhibitions.
Louvre
Once a royal Renaissance palace, the Louvre Museum houses some
of the world’s most famous works of art, highlights of which
are the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory,
360
degree visit . Closed on Tuesdays.
Place de la Concorde
The grandest and most infamous square in Paris. It is situated at
a crossroads, the National Assembly to the south facing its mirror
image a neo-Greek Temple, the Madeline church, to the north and
the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees to the west facing the Tuilleries
Gardens and the Louvre to the east. It was constructed between 1754
and 1763 to hold a statue of Louis XV and was then called Place
Louis XV. It then became the Place de Revolution and the site of
the guillotine which beheaded nearly 3000 people including Louis
XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton and Robespierre. After the Reign of
Terror it was renamed Place de la Concorde, then after several name
changes, it once again became the Place de la Concorde. See it in
360
degrees
The statue of Louis XV, removed during the Revolution, was replaced
by the over 3000 year old Obelisk of Luxor, given by the viceroy
of Egypt to Louis Phillippe in 1883.
Rue St-Honore
This Street has been a major thoroughfare since the 12th century
and is now lined with luxurious shops and trendy boutiques. At #163
stood the old St-Honore Gate where Joan of Arc was wounded in the
thigh by an English archer in 1429. Her statue is nearby on Rue
de Rivoli to commemorate this event.
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