Snapshots of a first visit in Paris, with Melinda
Melinda – On the bridge of Austerlitz. In the distance, Notre-Dame and Saint Louis Island beautiful houses Monday 27th May – 12:51 PM, Wednesday 29th May – 6:57 PM – First time in Paris for Melinda from Miami (USA) ! What better choice than to start a first stay in Paris doing a visit by running (with Paris Running Tour)? A good way of unwinding legs after a long travel by plane and a first discovery of Paris getting directly into the life of the city. And why not begin again two days later to discover new paths through Paris? We thus ran by following two routes which mainly crossed the disctrict of “Le Marais”, the Left bank, the island of “La Cité” and the center of Paris around the Seine. Here is the route (numbers indicate where the photos of this article were taken): We took numerous photos during our running: 1) “La rue des Barres” (Street of Bars). This name comes because formerly, in the 10th century, on the location of the street, a wall, a fence of wooden bars, constituted a wall protecting Paris: Melinda – “Rue des Barres” 2) “L’Hôtel de Sully” (The Hotel of Sully). The Duke of Sully, Minister of Finance of king Henri IV, lived in this noble mansion at the end of his life. By crossing the Hotel of Sully, we passed directly from the street Saint Antoine to the “place des Vosges”. Melinda – “Hôtel de Sully” 3) The “bassin de l’Arsenal”. Having crossed the place of the Bastille, we met the Basin of the Arsenal, port and canal connecting the river Seine with the Saint Martin canal and which, formerly, was a ditch which filled the moats of the castle of the Bastille. Melinda – “Port de l’Arsenal” 4) “Pont d’Austerlitz” (Bridge of Austerlitz). See the picture at the beginning of the article. 5) “Cour du Commerce Saint André”. Another place which is situated on the plan of the former surrounding wall of Paris, the wall of king Philippe Auguste. This passage, opened in 1776, allows to reach the Café Procope (1686), one of the oldest cafés in the world. Melinda – “Cour du Commerce Saint André” Second tour : 6) “Le Tribunal de Commerce de Paris” (Commercial court). This building presents the peculiarity to have a dome placed not in the center, but on the side, in a way that the dome is visible from the Boulevard Sevastopol. The dome closes the perspective of the Boulevard by the South. Melinda – On the bridge Notre Dame. We can see, on the island of “La Cité”, successively, the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospital), the “Tribunal du Commerce de Paris” and the Conciergerie. 7) On the “Pont Neuf” (“New” Bridge). Melinda – Pont Neuf. On left, the “Institut de France”, the Eiffel tower and, on right,the “Musée d’Orsay” 8) Colonnade of the Louvre. Summit of the French classicism, the Colonnade of the Louvre was realized at the request of king Louis XIV. The Colonnade of the Louvre served as model to numerous famous buildings, in particular, the Capitol of the United States in Washington, Metropolitan Museum of art in New York and San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. Melinda – The “Colonnade du Louvre” 9) Alexandre III bridge. The widest bridge in Paris. Built with the “Grand” and “Petit Palais” for the World Fair of 1900. The bridge offers a direct link between the “Invalides” and the Champs-Elysées. Melinda – the Alexandre III bridge – In the distance, the “Invalides” 10) The Champs Elysées. Melinda – Champs Elysées, at the end, the “Arc de Triomphe” and far off, the “Grande Arche” of “la Défense” 11) The equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, place of the Pyramids. She is situated not far from the Gate Saint Honoré, where Joan of Arc tried to cross Charles V’s surrounding wall to reconquer Paris, occupied at the time by the English. She was hurt by an arrow in the thigh there. Melinda – Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, of Frémiet and inaugurated in 1874 12) The Puget courtyard in the Louvre. Melinda – Puget Courtyard, situated with the Marly Courtyard on both sides of the passage which connects the Louvre Pyramid to the street of Rivoli 13) Stravinsky fountain. This fountain, fountain Stravinsky or fountain of automatons, was created by the couple of artist Nikki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely in 1983 and evokes the work of the composer Stravinsky. Melinda – the “Fontaine Stravinsky”, on the right George Pompidou Center Interesting and beautiful discoveries, isn’t it? Merci Melinda ! The route of the tours:
London came to run with Paris ! With Hope from City Jogging Tours of London
Hope de City Jogging Tour of London with Paris Running Tour – Louvre Pyramid 10:35 AM – Hope from London (United Kingdom) is the creator of City Jogging Tours of London, one of the first “Sightjogging Tours” in the world. What is better than a visit of Paris while running to share our running tour guides experiences? We thus left Montmartre to make a beautiful stroll… Hope – Montmartre, in the background, the whole of Paris! …by coming down to the South and by way of nice Parisian covered passages… Hope – Passage Jouffroy – Galerie Vivienne …by being amazed by the famous padlocks on the “Pont des Arts”, more and more numerous… Hope – “Pont des Arts” – In the distance, the Orsay Museum and the Eiffel tower …by making a break in the garden of the Tuileries… Hope – Tuileries Garden …by crossing the “Champs- Elysées”… Hope – Champs Elysées – Far off, the Arc of Triumph …to greet Winston Churchill… Hope – Winston Churchill, near the “Petit Palais” … And finally join the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire (Military school). City Jogging Tours of London and Paris Running Tour If you pass by London, go run a Jogging Tour with Hope and her team! A wonderful stroll in London! One day, Paris will be happy to go running with London… Merci Hope ! The route of the tour:
Running under the bridge Saint-Michel with Antje
Antje – Under Saint-Michel bridge – In the background, “Notre-Dame de Paris” 7h57 – Antje comes from another great and beautiful European capital, Berlin. She already ran several times the Berlin marathon, one of the fastest world marathons (the last four world records were realized in Berlin). Antje knows well Paris and that is with pleasure and while running that we rediscovered its most beautiful “paths”. A beautiful route of more than 14 km also passing under bridges of Paris as we can see on the photo above. Our running led us of the Eiffel Tower up to Notre-Dame, then up to the Arc of Triumph. This Friday was making the “bridge” between two holidays, May 8th&9th and the weekend so Paris was very quiet, even the Eiffel Tower seemed deserted (at least at 8 am in the morning). Antje – “Champs de Mars” and Eiffel tower Notice the scaffolds which leave the ground towards the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. These temporary elements are of use to the renovation of the first floor. The objective of this modernization project is to make this floor a more attractive place => Click here. Back from Notre-Dame, this time, it is ON the “Pont Neuf”, the New Bridge, that we ran: Antje – “Pont Neuf” – In the background, the “Pont des Arts” (bridge of the Arts) As its name does not indicate it, the “Pont Neuf”, literally “New Bridge”, is the oldest bridge of Paris. As you can read it on the photo, the bridge was built at the end of the 16th century. Yes, “neuf” means “new” (and not “9”). Is the oldest bridge the new bridge? Indeed, at the time of its construction, this bridge was very modern: all in stone, without houses on its edges (at last, we could know that we were really on a bridge while crossing it, impossible with houses!), and with sidewalks! These sidewalks were really new because very rare in Paris at that time… The “Pont Neuf”, already at that time, a beautiful place to stroll, to appreciate the sight and Paris! Farther, we pursued our route along the historic axis of Paris (see here), the Louvre, the Louvre Pyramid and the garden of the Tuileries : Antje – “Cour carrée du Louvre” Antje – Small break near the Louvre Pyramid Antje – In the garden of the Tuileries We then continued our road along the Champs-Elysées to go uphill towards the Arc of Triumph. Uphill? Yes indeed, do you know that the Arc of Triumph is put on what we called formerly the “colline du Roule” (The hill of the Roule). In 1768, this hill was leveled to have a more regular slope towards the Gate of Neuilly. The top of the hill was then 5 meters higher. Paris as flat as Berlin? Hem, not completely… So remember, when you will take the departure of the Paris marathon and will start with the Champs-Elysées, do not run too fast: if it is so easy, it is because you are in descent! Merci Antje ! The route of the tour:
In front of the rotunda of La Villette with Felicity
Felicity – Rotunda of la Villette 7:51 AM – Do you remember Felicity from Melbourne, Australia ? (See the post here.) Two years ago, we ran along the river Seine. This time, our route led us to the North East of Paris, since Montmartre up to the Ourcq canal, then to the Saint-Martin canal and to the Grand boulevards. First of all, we followed the former plan of the Wall of the Farmers Generals. Paris grew as an onion, protected successively by various surrounding walls (as for example, Philippe Auguste’s surrounding wall, see the post here). All these walls had a protective function except one: the Wall of the Farmers Generals. The different city walls of Paris The Wall of the Farmers Generals served to collect the tax on all the goods entering Paris (the “Octroi”). Its construction began before the Revolution in 1784, it was destroyed in 1860. At the time, we thus entered Paris by passages, barriers. Most of these barriers contained buildings called “bureaux d’octroi” (“offices of granting”). 61 “bureaux d’octroi” were created by the architect Nicolas Ledoux. There remains of these constructions among which the beautiful rotundas of the Parc Monceau and of the Villette. We can see the Rotunda of the Villette at the beginning of this article. We then followed the Saint-Martin canal, which construction was decided by Napoleon the 1st. Felicity – Saint-Martin Canal A little later, we joined the Grand boulevards and admired the Arc de Triomphe of the Saint-Denis gate, arc created by king Louis XIV, arc dedicated to the consecration of his glory (” Ludovico Magno “!). You will find the history of this Arc de Triomphe and the Grand boulevards in an article of the blog=> here. Felicity – “Porte Saint-Denis” Finally, back to Montmartre, we crossed the Moulin Rouge. Felicity – The “Moulin Rouge” Contrary to the “Moulin de la Galette” (see the picture here), the “Moulin Rouge” was never a real windmill, but from the beginning, a cabaret, this famous cabaret which saw the birth of the “French cancan” and which is always in service. Merci Felicity ! The route of the tour :
A new Running Tour in Paris with Manoella
Manoella – “Opéra de Paris” (Opéra Garnier) 7:09 AM – Do you remember Manoella, from São Paulo, Brazil? (See the post here.) Bravo! Since last time, Manoella finished successfully her first marathon, the Paris Marathon. Manoella is now a marathon runner, a confirmed long distance runner since, three weeks only after the marathon, we redid easily a Paris Running Tour of more than 19 km. In spite of the cold still present at this end of April, it is under a big sun that we admired the marvels of Paris: – The Opéra Garnier (As we can see himit on the photo above) – The Eiffel tower from the President Wilson avenue: Manoella – President Wilson Avenue – The Eiffel tower from “place de l’Alma”, as well as the flame of the statue of Liberty (remember the article on this flame => here): Manoella – “Place de l’Alma” – The embassy of Brazil which we were able to greet (the wind was not very hard this morning and the flag was resting): Manoella – Brazil Embassy, “Cours Albert 1er” – The “Sacré-Coeur” of Montmartre from “Boulevard des Italiens”: Manoella – “Boulevard des Italiens” – Far-off, the “Sacré-Coeur” – Two magnificent passages: Manoella – “Passage Jouffroy”, boulevard Montmartre – “Passage du Grand Cerf”, rue Dussouds – And many other amazing places of Paris… Good return in Brazil! Merci Manoella ! The route of the tour :
With Sharon, in front of the canons of the “Invalides”
Sharon – “Esplanade des Invalides” 7:34 AM – With Sharon, who lives in Bangkok (Thailand), we traveled a good distance by running, more than 16 km to visit Paris. It allowed us to discover numerous surprising and interesting places, especially for their history. As we can see it on the photo above, we ran around the “Invalides”, the famous “Hôtel des Invalides”, created by Louis XIV to accommodate the injured veteran soldiers of his armies. A canons battery faces the “Esplanade des Invalides”. It was not at the origin of the French artillery but the got back enemy canons, belonging mainly to the Austrians and to the Turks. These artillery still fire, for example every time France elected a new President of the Republic. Close to the “Invalides”, on our road, the Rodin museum. The Rodin museum is at the heart of a beautiful garden which exposes statues of the sculptor. During a small break, since the street, we were able to admire one of the copies of a well-known work of Rodin, “Les Bourgeois de Calais”: Sharon – Rodin museum – “Les Bourgeois de Calais” – Far off, the museum The work “Les Bourgeois de Calais ” redraw a famous episode of the one hundred years war. In 1347, to end the terrible siege of the city of Calais and save the inhabitants, six burghers, a rope around the neck, surrendered in sacrifice to the English king Edouard III. His wife Philippa de Hainaut interceded to save them from the execution. It is what tells the Chronicle of the period… At the exit of the museum, the visitors, doubtless reached by the artistic fiber, are used to decorating posts situated around the museum with their tickets: On our road, near the Petit Palais, we saw Winston Churchill: Sharon – Winston Churchill’s statue Later, we met the Expiatory Chapel, a quiet and little known place in Paris: Sharon – The Expiatory Chapel The Expiatory Chapel in the “Louis XVI square” – Click on the picture for a larger view The Expiatory chapel is a monument dedicated to Louis XVI and to Marie-Antoinette. Louis XVIII ordered the construction of the building in the place where were buried the King and the Queen in 1793, after having been guillotined. Avenue of the President Wilson, in this Saturday, it is a typical Parisian market which offered us the colors of his fruits: Merci Sharon ! The route of the tour :
Running in April in Paris
Cherry trees in flower in Paris – Street Carrier-Belleuse / Boulevard Garibaldi – 15th arrondissement (district) Cherry trees in flower, boulevard Garibaldi, along the elevated railway (line 6) No doubt you know the song “April in Paris“: April in Paris Chestnuts in blossom (or cherry trees in blossom… 😉 ) Holiday tables under the trees April in Paris This is the feeling No one can ever reprise I never knew the charm of spring I never met it face to face I never knew my heart could sing Never missed a warm embrace Till April in Paris, Whom can I run to What have you done to my heart In April! In January! In October! No matter what month we are, it is always a pleasure to run in Paris! Come and do a tour, a nice visit while running with Paris Running Tour!
Historic, artistic, scientific and sports stroll in Paris with Isabel
Isabel – Les Invalides 8:59 – Isabel, from Baltimore (USA), is a young, very regular runner as she runs 6 days a week. Visiting Paris, why not discovering the city by running? We thus went for 17 kilometers with a good pace for a stroll which we can qualify as historical, artistic, scientific and of course, sporting. Historical: Every Parisian place is a witness of the History, whether it is a small street, a small garden either a famous place or a most known building, for example, the “Invalides”. The “Invalides” reminds the will of king Louis XIV to regroup the disabled war veterans in a dedicated place, the “Hôtel des Invalides“. We can see the magnificent building in the background of the photo above. The dome is covered with 12 kilograms of gold deposited in fine layers. Inside, thrones the grave where rest Napoleon. A little earlier, we crossed the “Arènes de Lutèce” (see the picture above). At the time of the Roman Empire, more than 15000 spectators saw there the gladiators fought and wildcats appeared. They also could applauded theater performances. These arenas, rediscovered in the 19th century, have now more modest dimensions, but we can always see games there, more quiet certainly, as football (soccer) or “pétanque” (a form of lawn bowling). Lutecia was the former name of Paris in this period. Isabel – The Arènes of Lutèce Scientific : If there is a garden dedicated to the sciences, the “Jardin des plantes” is the one indeed: Isabel – Garden of the plants/Natural history museum – In the background, the great Gallery of the Evolution The garden of plants is, first of all, a botanical garden. It is a magnificent park which contains at the same time very big Greenhouses and specialized gardens, for example, the Alpine garden. The buildings contain various galleries dedicated, among others, to the mineralogy and to the geology, to the evolution, and to the paleontology. We see the gallery of the paleontology on the photo below (see, behind the windows, the big skeleton of a whale): Isabel – Gallery of Paleontology The garden of plants also contains a menagerie, one of the first menageries of the world. Even if these mammals do not exist any more, we were able to cross a mammoth on our way! The Mammoth of the “Jardin des plantes” – By his side, Isabel Artistic: Paris is a city of Art which counts at least 130 museums. Among them, the Museum of Modern Art: Isabel – Paris Modern Art Museum The Museum of Modern Art presents numerous works of the 20th century, some are famous (Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Modigliani, …) Finally, even though if it was rejected by numerous artists during its creation, is not the Eiffel Tower a gigantic work of art? Isabel – The Eiffel tower from the “Palais de Chaillot” Merci Isabel ! The route of the tour:
On the “Pont des Arts” with Manoella
7:06 AM – Manoella, who lives in São Paulo (Brazil), came to stay some time in Paris. She will participate in a major event, the Paris Marathon! It will be her first marathon, we can appreciate this choice, what better than Paris? 😉 No unnecessary risks in 7 days of the marathon (April 7th, 2013 ), we ran quietly and took advantage of a route around the Latin Quarter, on the “Ile de la Cité” and also right bank: Louvre, Palais Royal, Pompidou Center, the “Marais”. Early on Sunday morning, very few people on the route, see how the Louvre is quiet : The winter does not want to go and it is by the temperature of -2°C (28.4°F) that we ran . March 31st! Well, this cold gave a beautiful particular luminosity to the city, we admired Notre-Dame nicely “colored” : Manoella, we wish you a magnificent first marathon in Paris! Merci Manoella ! The route of the tour :
Paris Competitions News: Ready for the 2013 Paris Marathon?
Champs-Elysées – Kilometer 1 – Just before “place de la Concorde” before turning left to the Rivoli street In spring, strange signs appear on the Parisian road, blue lines accompanied by indications which seem to be coded: “KM1”, “KM2”, “KM3”, etc. These are the kilometric marks of the Paris marathon! In other places, all the miles are indicated too. On the photo above, the first kilometer. Magic kilometer going down the Champs-Elysées. Imagine, you are in the middle of the road of one of the most beautiful avenues and you are running applauded by the crowd! Take care, in spite of the enthusiasm, don’t lose your head. If it seems to be easy, it is because you are running downhill. keep your energy. One kilometer earlier, the start, in the middle of the Champs-Elysées. The mark is already present: The 2013 Paris marathon start at the level of the Marbeuf street Here you are, ready to make a magnificent route in Paris. Find the route in detail by clicking the image below, with a view of monuments, buildings, streets: Having crossed and taken advantage of Paris up and down, here you are, very close to the finish, in the kilometer 42: Avenue Foch – 42th kilometer – In the background, the Arc of Triumph Only 195 meters to go (enjoy it, this moment is extraordinary) and you arrive! Here is the location of the finish, rather discreet for the moment: The finish line ! Behind the Arc of Triumph, the Champs-Elysées from where the Marathon started! We wish you a beautiful Paris Marathon!