LE MARAIS
Theatre Renaissance |
Along with the 4th Arrondissement, this neighbourhood makes up the
Marais, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. Many 17th century
mansions that once housed the noblest families in Paris are still
to be seen in this quiet and ungentrified quarter.
THEATRE DE LA RENAISSANCE
The Theatre was created by Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo, which were seeking to find an adequate medium of expression for the Romanticism. But the competition with the Opéra Comique nearby is very hard, and the Theatre de la Renaissance has to close its doors 1841. It will meet with success after the 1870' war, with the new theatre hall, a construction of Charles Delalande, assistant of the famous Charles Garnier. The Theatre de la Renaissance is since then a prestigious Parisian institution with a lot of successful plays.
|
CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL DES ARTS ET MÉTIERS
Conservatoire des Art et Métiers |
This building became the Conservatoire National des Arts et Mechanics
in 1794. Its collection of over 80.000 various scientific and
mechanical objects and about 15.000 detailed scientific drawings
is now gathered into the collections of the informative Musée
des Arts et Métiers. The conservatory’s developing
designs ideas don’t stop within its walls: the metro station
that serves the area is covered in copper tiling in homage to
the museum and the conservatory. |
MUSÉE D’ART ET D’HISTOIRE DU JUDAISME
This newly renovated museum displays the history of Jews
in Europe, France and North Africa. Highlights include an ornate
15th century Italian ark, letters written to wrongly accused French
general Dreyfus, a small collection of Chagall and Modigliani paintings,
Lissitzky lithographs and modern art collections looted by the Nazis
from Jewish homes. |
MUSÉE PICASSO
Musée Picasso |
The Musée Picasso has a collection of several thousand works
of Pablo Picasso. Picasso was born in 1881 and he began to study
art in 1895. During his life he created diverse works: painting,
sculpture, drawing, ceramics, engraving, and even poetry. After
his death in 1973, many of Picasso's works went to the French state,
which decided to form a museum with the collection.
To house the collection, they chose to use a seventeenth-century
hotel, situated in the Marais. This is the Hôtel Salé
that was built in 1656 for the general Aubert de Fontenay. Before
housing the musée Picasso, the hotel was already well-known.
It was leased to the ambassador of Venice, and it became the Central
School of Art and Manufacture (and then the School of "métiers
d'art"), and finally it was leased to the state in 1975. The
restoration of the museum was completed in 1985.
Today, there are 203 paintings, 191 sculptures, 85 ceramics, and
over 3000 drawings, engravings, and manuscripts in the museum. Besides
the personal collection of Picasso, the museum also has some works
of Cézanne and Matisse. |
ST-DENIS DU ST-SACREMENT
St-Denis Arch of Triumph |
This church houses a dark, well-hidden fresco by the famous painter
Eugène Delacroix. |
MUSÉE CARNEVALET
This amazing museum traces Paris’ history from its origins
to the present with exhibits on the city from the prehistory and
the Roman times to Medieval politics, 18th century splendour and
Revolution, 19th century Haussmannization, and Mitterand’s
“Grands Projets”. The collection includes the Wendell
Ballroom by José Maria Sert, and the Charles Les Brun ceilings
in rooms 19 and 20. The garden and are a lovely place to relax after
the visit to the museum. The museum hosts special exhibitions featuring
the work of cartoonists, sculptors and photographers.
|
HÔTEL DE ROHAN
The famous Hôtel de Rohan was built between 1705 and 1708
for Armand Gaston de Rohan, Bishop of Strasbourg and alleged love-child
of Louis XIV, the Hôtel, has housed many of his descendants.
The Hôtel de Rohan, now part of the National Archives, boasts
an impressive courtyard and a fragrant rose garden. |
PLAZA DE L’HOROLOGE À AUTOMATES
The “ Horologe à Automates” realized
by Monestier give the name to the district. Placed in the middle
of a square to be seen by everybody, stays like a defender of time.
Situated on a rock, is this colossal gilded bronze man,
armed with a cudgel, fights hour after hour against the 3 elements
(air, earth and water) represented by animals:
at 12 am and at 5pm, the three animals attack at the same time offering
an imposing spectacle.
|
SAINT NICOLAS DES CHAMPS
St-Nicholas du Champs |
The church of Saint Nicolas des Champs, part of one of the most powerful monastic order of the Middle Ages, dates from 1420 for its first construction. The church was significantly enlarged in 1541 and 1615. Many masterpieces are to be found in this luminous church, with artistic works from the 16th to contemporary works of art. |
