We were lucky enough to be in Paris on the 1st Sunday of the month which means the major museums and sites are FREE!!! So off we went to visit as many of our favorite well-known places we could.
First stop: Sainte-Chapelle which is a royal medieval Gothic chapel built around 1240. Although damaged during the French revolution, and restored in the 19th century, it retains one of the most extensive collections of 13th-century stained glass anywhere in the world.
Next stop: Musee Rodin. We visit this museum every time we come to Paris and the re-visit doesn't disappoint. Not only is the house lovely (not too big) and the sculpture exhibits well-organized, but the gardens serene and relaxing, especially beautiful with so many of Rodin's sculptures. The fall colors and sunlight added to the enriching experience.
Stop Three: LUNCH! We picked up sandwiches and ate in the Tuilerie Gardens near an art installation. I wish we had a video with sound, because many wind chimes were attached to bells which made such a pretty tinkling sound.
Our batteries recharged, we were off to Musee D'Orsay. I was again so impressed with how they converted the train station into a museum. Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed in the galleries, only in the main corridor. It was so exciting to see once again so many exquisite and famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Pure heaven!
By now it was late afternoon and we were pretty tired, but I was determined to push ahead. I had heard that the top of the Centre Pompidou (Modern Art) had an amazing view and it was true. We didn't have any energy to see the exhibits. However, from the top we spied a huge church, so after descending, we went to investigate. And what a find! Church of Saint-Eustache was built between 1532 and 1632 and is considered a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture.
On Monday while Miles was at the Institute (yes, he has to work SOMETIMES), I went to the Palais Garnier (Opera House--Garnier was the architect). Definitely a "wow" factor. This 1875 building is of exceptional opulence. The style is monumental and decorated with very elaborate multicolored marble friezes, columns, and lavish statuary, many of which portray deities of Greek mythology. I enjoyed the audio-tour which took me throughout the entire building. Here are a few high lights:
I left feeling quite overwhelmed. I kept imagining what it must have been like going to an opera in 1875. Going to the opera was the kind of place to see and be seen!
First stop: Sainte-Chapelle which is a royal medieval Gothic chapel built around 1240. Although damaged during the French revolution, and restored in the 19th century, it retains one of the most extensive collections of 13th-century stained glass anywhere in the world.
Lower chapel of Sainte-Chapelle
Upper chapel with stained glass windows
Next stop: Musee Rodin. We visit this museum every time we come to Paris and the re-visit doesn't disappoint. Not only is the house lovely (not too big) and the sculpture exhibits well-organized, but the gardens serene and relaxing, especially beautiful with so many of Rodin's sculptures. The fall colors and sunlight added to the enriching experience.
The Kiss
Nobody does hands like Rodin
Sleeping woman
Rodin garden
Pond in garden
Stop Three: LUNCH! We picked up sandwiches and ate in the Tuilerie Gardens near an art installation. I wish we had a video with sound, because many wind chimes were attached to bells which made such a pretty tinkling sound.
"Tinkle-tinkle"
Our batteries recharged, we were off to Musee D'Orsay. I was again so impressed with how they converted the train station into a museum. Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed in the galleries, only in the main corridor. It was so exciting to see once again so many exquisite and famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Pure heaven!
Former D'Orsay train station makes a GREAT museum
By now it was late afternoon and we were pretty tired, but I was determined to push ahead. I had heard that the top of the Centre Pompidou (Modern Art) had an amazing view and it was true. We didn't have any energy to see the exhibits. However, from the top we spied a huge church, so after descending, we went to investigate. And what a find! Church of Saint-Eustache was built between 1532 and 1632 and is considered a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture.
Sainte-Eustache Church
Church interior with amazingly high ceilings
What a day!On Monday while Miles was at the Institute (yes, he has to work SOMETIMES), I went to the Palais Garnier (Opera House--Garnier was the architect). Definitely a "wow" factor. This 1875 building is of exceptional opulence. The style is monumental and decorated with very elaborate multicolored marble friezes, columns, and lavish statuary, many of which portray deities of Greek mythology. I enjoyed the audio-tour which took me throughout the entire building. Here are a few high lights:
Exterior of Palais Garnier
Grand staircase
Small balconies overlooking the grand staircase
Chagall ceiling installed in 1964 in the auditorium depicting different composers
The Grand Foyer (modeled after the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles)
I left feeling quite overwhelmed. I kept imagining what it must have been like going to an opera in 1875. Going to the opera was the kind of place to see and be seen!
ALL MY FAVOURITE PLACES! You really took in a phenomenal amount of some of Paris' greatest gems on that Sunday and then the icing on the cake, the Palais Garnier, the following day. What a huge dose of culture, as only Paris can give. May you continue to enjoy and be entranced at all there is to see and do.
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