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Paris’ Pantheon and Its Many Gods – Part 2
Scale models or maquettes of buildings always fascinate me. And happily, these are quite commonly found in historic French monuments. So my tour of Paris‘ Pantheon continued with an exploration of its beautiful maquette. A Model of Architecture The graceful beauty of its exterior was in full view as I approached it from the front. Then, I slipped around to the side and discovered a cutaway view into the interior. The level of detail was breathtaking. It even included the intricate rosette panels embedded in the coffered ceiling which stood above me. The Nation’s Crypt Of course, a centuries-old church would not exist without a crypt. And a somewhat shocking…
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Paris’ Pantheon and Its Many Gods – Part 1
I had heard of the beauty of le Panthéon – the Pantheon – in Paris long before I took the time to visit it. So, on my first solo trip to the City of Light, I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to do so. And this fascinating monument to French history did not disappoint. As I was filled with awe from the first moment I saw it. Parisian Delights I was staying in a lovely little apartment in the 16th arrondissement – municipality – just off the Champs-Élysées. From here I made my way to the Latin Quarter by Metro. Feeling a little peckish, I was happy to…
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Hôtel Dieu: A Secret Parisian Garden
In the heart of Paris, a stone’s throw from one of its greatest attractions, lies a secret garden. Located on Place Jean Paul II, in the shadow of the majestic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, and under the watchful eyes of her gargoyles, sits Paris‘ Hôtel-Dieu – Hospital. And within its walls, the most wonderful courtyard and garden reveal themselves to you. In the Shadow of Notre-Dame The great thing is that, despite the square outside usually being full of tourists, the unassuming entrance of Hôtel-Dieu means that very few venture in to visit it. This leaves this fantastic building and its secret garden both a very convenient and very quiet…
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Château Fort de Sedan: A Torchlight Tour
High on a hill overlooking the historic town of Sedan, France, sits the largest fortified castle in Europe: Château Fort de Sedan. And I had the great fortune to not only tour it, but to do so by torchlight! Intrepid Explorers This adventure was one of several that I experienced while on a rowing tour of the Meuse river last summer. It was a warm Friday evening in July and our group of 80 had just met over an introductory dinner. And now we were at the château, torches in hand, setting out like medieval warriors ready to conquer its secrets. A History of Growth A castle was first…
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Restaurant L’Echiquier, Sedan, France
Today a major winter storm whirls around me, blanketing everything in sight with a fluffy layer of white, meringue-like peaks. So I’ve decided to escape for a bit to a beautiful, warm, summer’s day. I was in Sedan, France last July and had one final evening to myself before embarking on a rowing tour with 79 other people. The tour promised bare bones accommodation (cots in community centre gymnasiums) so I was treating myself to a night at the fantastic Hôtel Le Château Fort de Sedan. I had been informed upon check-in that their dining room was fully booked for dinner that night. So I decided to look for a…
