12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 19th centuries, a stroll in the History of Paris with Aveen and David
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, in the 14th century with the magnificent “Hôtel de Sens”, in the 16th century with the Carnavalet Museum (formerly “Hôtel de Carnavalet” and “Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau”) and the place Dauphine, also created at the end of the 16th century, Let us admire now four beautiful places appeared in the 17th century: The “Jardin du Luxembourg” (Garden of Luxembourg), 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”, The “Hôtel de Sully”. 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). Merci Aveen ! Merci David ! The route of the tour:
In front of the invisible pyramid with Molly and Saul
9:00 AM – With Molly and Saul from California, we crossed by running Paris from west to east to make an attractive tour of more than 16 km (10 miles). We made a small stop in front of the Louvre and, what a surprise, the Louvre Pyramid seems to have disappeared by leaving a grey halo! Is it a photomontage? No, not at all, the pyramid was made invisible by the artist JR by a astonishing anamorphosis. (if you want to know more about JR’s works, go to this nice arts website at this page: https://www.artsy.net/artist/jr) A look aside makes us understand a little better the trompe-l’œil effect: We began our race near the “Palais de la Découverte” to join quickly the river Seine at the level of the “Pont de l’Alma” (bridge of Alma). A important number of photographers had assembled near the Zouave, who has become again an attraction because of the important flood of the Seine, this June 2016: By the way, let us take back the photography of the Bridge of the Alma and the Eiffel Tower, don’t you notice anything new in this Parisian landscape? The new Russian Orthodox Church in Paris:Find the zouave and the usual level of the Seine here. This flood is impressive and offers surprising views: From the “Pont de l’Alma”, we climb the avenue of President Wilson to join the hill of Chaillot and the beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower since the Trocadéro: Later, we cross again the Seine by the bridge Alexandre III: We alternate then the beautiful routes, right bank and left bank with the pleasure of running in the Latin Quarter in the street Rollin, lined with buildings of the XVIth and XVIIth centuries where lived, in particular, the philosophers Pascal and Descartes: Merci Molly, merci Saul ! The route of the tour:
On the “new Pont des Arts” with Laura
Do you recognize the “Pont des Arts” (“Bridge of Arts”)? Where are the famous padlocks of love?8:03 AM – With Laura, from Chicago, we made a long running tour of Paris, a pleasant sporting stroll on a beautiful sunny morning of March. Until 2015, we could see the “Pont des Arts” overloaded with “padlocks of love”. You probably know the story: two lovers write their names on a padlock, hang it on a bridge and throw the key in the river, thus sealing their love. This tradition would come from Italy, from a movie adapted from a novel “Ho voglia di te”, where two lovers place their padlock on a lamppost of the bridge Milvius in Rome. Inspired by the movie, the lovers in Rome decorated in their turn this bridge with their own padlocks. The fashion quickly spread in Europe and mainly in Paris, ideal romantic city. The “Pont des Arts”, attractive pedestrian footbridge, was the main target of these padlocks. Transparent panels recently had to replace these padlocks, too heavy for the bridge. The story of the “Pont des Arts” padlocks in some images of our blogs: The beginning of the love padlocks fashion on the “Pont des Art” (some padlocks) The fast growth of the love padlocks on the “Pont des Arts” The replacement, summer 2015, by temporary artistic panels Then, no more padlock on the “Pont des Arts”? No, some smart ones find solutions: Having left the Pont des Arts, with Laura, we explored “Saint Germain des Près” and the Latin Quarter, the left bank, then the island of “La Cité” and the right bank, the Louvre, the Palais-Royal and the beginning of the historic axis of Paris. A sport visit for sure but with numerous stops to be able to appreciate magnificent Parisian landscapes: : The Medicis Fountain at the garden of Luxembourg, Animal statues in the Jardin des plantes, The “Pont Neuf” and its beautiful view on the Seine, The pond in the Garden of the “Palais Royal” In the Garden of the Palais Royal, we found Michel Goulet’s new chairs, inspired by the metallic chairs which we usually meet in the Parisian gardens (to know more about it => here): We returned at a good pace to take advantage of the pedestrian part of the Seine left bank. Merci Laura ! The route of the tour:
Very happy new year 2016!
Big thanks to the 300 runners who came to discover Paris with us in 2015! We wish you all a very happy 2016! Happy running!
The Parisian running competitions in 2016
A new year for the running competitions in Paris It is always a great pleasure to run on the Parisian roadway freed of cars, to be able to run on the avenue of the Opera or at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in the woods of Boulogne and Vincennes (which belong to Paris), to go down the Champs Elysées running the first kilometer of the marathon… As every year now, we propose the 2016 list of the Parisian competitions, all those which take place in Paris. DISCOVER THE LIST => HERE