Category Archives: France

Paris 15

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The “quinzième arrondissement” of Paris is not the most visited place of the capital but there are some tourists who take a first look at the district, unlike its own inhabitants. The visitors make pictures of cakes in pâtisserie windows, they ooh when the metro crosses the river Seine and reveals a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower…
Sometimes I take my camera, I put myself in a tourist’s shoes and I walk in search of photogenic places in my neighbourhood. I come back with a photo mosaic. Click on the picture to view my Parisian tourist’s photo album.

 

Paris 15 pictures


pictures from left to right and from top to bottom:
1. BirHakeim, 2. Paris coat of arms, 3. bandstand, 4. chimney, 5. Art Nouveau building, 6. île aux Cygnes, 7. la Ruche, 8. Eiffel Tower, 9. Mirabeau bridge, 10. liberty2, 11. inscription on the Mirabeau bridge, 12. barge, 13. liberty3, 14. BirHakeim2, 15. tent, 16. barges

 


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Metro entrances in Paris

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The metro entrances are typical part of Paris street furniture (like Wallace fountains).

In 1899, the Compagnie du Métropolitain de Paris asks Hector Guimard to design different entrances to the metro : small stations, enclosed entrances (called “édicules”) and open entrances (called “entourages”). Hector Guimard is an architect who belongs to the Art Nouveau movement. His cast iron gates indicate the entrances to the new Paris metro. They are criticized for their innovating shapes.

Entourage Guimard (Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station)
 Entourage Guimard (Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station)

Edicule Guimard (Abbesse station)
 Edicule Guimard (Abbesse station)

After Guimard, metro entrances are less avant-garde. Open entrances are made of stone or wrought iron. Entrances are signposted by masts.

 

 

a Val d'Osne mast

 a Val d’Osne mast

a Dervaux mast
 a Dervaux mast

 

Later, they are replaced by signs simply saying “metro” or “M” (those signs are not worth taking a picture of) to signpost the stairs (only stairs no lift, Paris metro is not wheelchair-accessible).  
In 2000 at last, a new metro entrance is bold. The “kiosque des noctambules” (kiosk of the night-birds) is designed by the French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel for the Palais Royal station.

 

 

kiosque des Noctambules (Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station)
kiosque des Noctambules (Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station)

 

I like this kiosk surmounted by two domes made of glass bubbles because it’s kitsch and fairy. The criticism I would make of this work of art is that it doesn’t help you to find the metro entrance because there is no sign. I am afraid it has forgotten its main function.

Links:

Différent metro entrances (in French)

Guimard metro entrances (in French)

Some works of art by Jean-Michel Othoniel


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Wallace fountains

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A city is characterized by its architecture but also by its street furniture. Wallace fountains for example are so associated with the city of Paris that the passers-by don’t notice them any more.

 

The first fountains were given to the Parisians by a wealthy Englishman, Richard Wallace, after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). In those days, the French Capital was lacking drinking water.

 

This art lover (he has his museum in London) wanted his fountains to be beautiful. He made real cast-iron sculptures. Water flows between four caryatids supporting the dome-shaped roof of the fountain.

Wallace fountain

 

There are still about a hundred fountains that provide drinking water. They don’t work in winter, but in summer when it’s warm, I quench my thirst and I drink in honor of Sir Wallace.

 

Wallace fountain (detail)


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