12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 19th centuries, a stroll in the History of Paris with Aveen and David

Aveen and David - "Jardin des Plantes" (Garden of the Plants)

8:05 AM - With Aveen and David, confirmed runners from Dublin (Ireland), we explored Paris, by running and stopping in front of various buildings or places which restore the city such as it was in the previous centuries.

Discovering "Le Marais", the Left bank (Latin Quarter et "Saint-Germain des Près"), the Louvre and "Ile de la Cité" is a journey through the time and a way of feeling the History of Paris.

Paris was damaged, bombarded but never totally destroyed as were London (Great fire of 1666) or Lisbon (Earthquake of 1755). In Paris, all the layers of History are represented (since the Roman Lutetia).

Our route thus led us:

• in the 12th century with Notre-Dame,

Aveen and David - Notre-Dame seen from the Bridge of "La Tournelle" (the first stone was put in 1163)

• in the 14th century with the magnificent "Hôtel de Sens",

Aveen and David - "Hôtel de Sens", built in 1345, formerly Hotel of the Archbishops of Sens 
(Paris depending on the archbishopric of Sens until 1622).
On the left part of the building, look (below and to the right of the roof) at the cannonball pulled in July, 1830, always stuck in the wall. The date in July 28th, 1830 is registered under the cannonball.

• in the 16th century with the Carnavalet Museum (formerly "Hôtel de Carnavalet" and "Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau")

David and Aveen - Carnavalet Museum. Look at the magnificent blazon of Paris above the door (1889). 
Carnavalet is the Paris museum (go there and discover the History of Paris through numerous exhibitions).

• and the place Dauphine, also created at the end of the 16th century,

David et Aveen - Place Dauphine.
Notice the buildings with the red bricks. Do not they remind you those that we see "Place des Vosges"? Look at the photo Place Vosges below. These two squares were created at the same time, Royal Places!

Let us admire now four beautiful places appeared in the 17th century:

• The "Jardin du Luxembourg" (Garden of Luxembourg),

David and Aveen - 
The "Jardin du Luxembourg", created in 1612 by Marie de Médicis with the Palace of Luxembourg (now the French Senate).

• The "Jardin des Plantes", initially Royal garden of the Medicinal Plants created in 1626 (see the picture at the beginning of this article),

• The "Place des Vosges",

David and Aveen - "Place des Vosges".
Compare the building with the ones of "place Dauphine" (see the photo above).

• The "Hôtel de Sully".

David and Aveen - The Hotel of Sully, magnificent Mansion in the "Marais", the residence of Duke of Sully, Minister of Finance of Henri IV (among others!).

Our road also passes in the 19th century with the "Place de la Contrescarpe", created in 1852 in the location of a counter-scarp of Philippe Auguste's surrounding wall (12th century).

David and Aveen - "Place de la Contrescarpe" 
In the back, the street Mouffetard which dates of the roman time.

Merci Aveen ! Merci David !


The route of the tour:

From the Bastille up to "La Concorde" with Jessica

Jessica - Pont de la Concorde

7:03 AM - Taking advantage of a sunny morning, with Jessica of Los Angeles (USA), we crossed Paris from the "place de la Bastille" up to the "place de la Concorde".
Did you know the anecdote which connects both places? Stones of the Bastille fortress destroyed by the revolutionaries served to build the Bridge of "La Concorde". The Parisian could so walk on one of the strong Monarchy symbols!

Having passed the "place de la Bastille" where we discovered on the ground the tracks of the destroyed fort (at the end of the street Saint Antoine), we joined the City hall of Paris:

Jessica - L'Hôtel de Ville

It is the 1882 "version" of the "Hôtel de Ville" that we can contemplate, the previous one having been burned during the events of the "Commune" in 1871. 
On the photo, we can notice American and French flags, having been gathered here doubtless to honor the US National Day, the 4th of July.

A little farther, near "Les Halles", we interrupted our running one moment to be able to appreciate the glass roof and the frescoes of the "Bourse du Commerce" ceiling. Former Corn Exchange where cereal were stored and sold, it is now occupied by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris, dedicated mainly to the creation of business companies:

La Bourse du Commerce - Paris

Our route then led us "place de la Concorde". The preparations of the French National Day, on July 14th, are nearly finished. We can see on the photo the stand where will sit the President of the Republic and the government members, situated in front of the Champs Elysées where from the military parade will come down. Notice the roof in the colors of the French flag...

Jessica - Place de la Concorde

We ended our running in "Le Marais" district where we were able to admire the magnificent "Hôtel de Sens":

Hôtel de Sens

Jessica is a regular runner, fond of healthy food but also a music composer and a singer : Raelux!

Merci Jessica !

The route of the tour :