It has always come as a surprise to us that the Palais-Royal, although situated in the heart of Paris, is so often missed by visitors. Perhaps it’s because the entrance isn’t obvious or perhaps visitors are distracted by a visit to the Louvre, which is opposite. For a weary visitor, the beautiful gardens of the historic Palais-Royal are a haven of peace and relaxation away from the crowds of the Louvre and the hustle and bustle of the city.
On a list of ‘must sees’ for most visitors to Paris, along with the obvious sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre etc., is likely to be the Château de Versailles. Far less familiar though is the Château de Fontainebleau, arguably the centre of the history of French monarchy. No site in France can compare as a royal residence. It predates the Louvre itself by 50 years, and Versailles by 5 centuries.
Fontainebleau is the only château that was lived in by every French monarch for almost 8 centuries.
This story continues on from my previous post about one of the three Paris pagodas, the Japanese-style pagoda, known as La Pagode, which was converted to a much-loved cinema. The other two are equally fascinating, with their own surprising stories to tell.
The three Paris Pagodas are as visually startling, unexpected delights today as they were when first created.
Paris has three remarkable and unusual pagodas. Curiously, only one of them was built as a shrine. Of the other two, one is bold and conspicuous, while the other is discreet and hidden within a dense bamboo and ginko garden. What the three have in common is that their histories are fascinating, with just a hint of mystery.
The Champs Élysées is surely the iconic avenue in Paris. It conjures up images of a wide, tree-lined boulevard lined with magnificent Beaux-Art style buildings occupied by elegant designer boutiques, discreet luxury hotels, the famous Lido cabaret, and like a giant exclamation mark, the Arc de Triomphe marking the summit. The reality though is that over the last few years the street was in danger of becoming just another retail strip full of banal chain stores and more than a few fast food outlets. Two recent spectacular renovations have heralded a rejuvenation of the world’s most beautiful avenue.
