L'Indépendant du 4e Arrondissement de Paris

DXCVIII : (post in English) : Pisces on the Facade of Notre Dame

Cet article a été publié en français le 20 février 2009.

For astrology fans, the period of Pisces begins tomorrow.

Some may not know that the Catholic church was not always against astrology as an uncertain science. To see for yourself, you can oberve the settings which adorn each side of the Virgen's gate. Indeed one can see each astrological sign, with an interesting detail, what people in this period of the year did during the Middle Ages.

 For instance, the pisces is associated wich a character whose head is missing but he is close to the fireplace warming his feet... The zodiac sign of Pisces is the last period of winter (From February 20th to March 20th).

According to L'Internaute.com website, these are the characteristics of pisces :

" Predisposed to mysticism, you are a tortured person. There are contradictory elements in your character. A compassionate and intuitive being, you listen to others with goodness. As a sensitive person, you hate aggresivity. Of a sensuel temperament, you have a tendancy to indolence and letting yourself go, indicating a lethargic side, a lack of will and confidence. Don't complain to much and pick yourself up, you have excellent cards in your hand, for instance a well developped artistic ability".

This post was first published in French on February 20th, 2009.

 

DXCIII (post in English) : The statue of Charlemagne and his "leudes" : a bronze statue which had difficulty finding its home

Cet article a été publié en français le 28 juin 2009.

The statue of Charlemagne, in winter, in the rising sun

 One can find this huge statue of the emperor Charlemagne (= "Charles the Great") with his "leudes" as it is written on the base. This statue is not necessarily in good taste but nevertheless we end up attaching ourselves to it. I often take pictures of it.

In autumn, with the sun setting on Notre Dame.

In winter, under a blanket of snow

This statue has a long history. It was designed when France was ruled by the Emperor Napoléon III, then an epoch when it was good to glorify the empire... But after, the proclamation of the Republic in 1870, this idea became old-fashioned quickly. Furthermore, this statue symbolised a period when France and Germany were one single entity which was ne longer a popular theme after the conquest of Alsace-Moselle by Germany in accordance with the treaty of Frankfort in 1871.

Indeed, a plaster version of the statue was proposed in 1853 by two sculptors, Louis and Charles Rochet, then it was exhibited at the Universal Exposition of 1867. The bronze version was finished for the Universal Exposition in 1878. The problem was that nobody wanted anything to do with this statue anymore. So Charles Rochet proposed to pay for the installation of his work.

In January 1879, the council of Paris deliberated about this question. The Left was against the erection of the statue because it was considered as a tribute to absolute power. Viollet-le-duc, who directed the debate, was infuriated by this point of view, but the statue was refused.

The 15 tons and 7 m high work was finally bought by the City of Paris in 1895 for 30 000 francs. However, in 1973, it was almost moved : the council of Paris wanted to replace it by the "pilier des nautes", roman remains which were discovered in the basement. The statue of Charlemagne was given to the city of Metz but they refused to pay the transportation costs. The result was that the statue didn't move.

The way Charlemagne is represented according to the popular tradition. He holds a scepter called the "scepter of Charlemagne" that can be admired in the Louvre. Actually, this scepter dates certainly to Charles V and so is from the 14th century (500  years after the death of Charlemagne).

Furthermore, the emperor has two companions, his "leudes" that's to say
his vassals : Roland and Olivier. The two sculptors forgot that when Charlemagne became emperor in 800 (he is wearing the imperial crown), Roland is supposed to have been killed in an ambush at Roncevaux in 778, 22 years beforehand !

Sources :

- photograph of the scepter : the website of the ministry of Culture.

- a book by Georges POISSON, Guide des statues de Paris, guide visuel Hazan, 1990.

 
 

DLXXXVI (post in English) : Was it the last automn for these splendid trees ? (avec un addendum en français à propos du jardin des Halles)

Cet article est paru en français le 14 novembre 2009.

I've written many posts in French about the refitting of Les Halles. I often cross the park and I think to myself that those in office (from the Left as mush as from the Right) and the designers of the project must not often go through this area to have decided on such a profond transformation.

In the project which seems to have been henceforth adopted, a large lawn is to replace the wooded section just near to Saint-Eustache church. So, I'm very sad each time I go in this area. These trees which are fully mature were splendid last autumn (when I published this post in French) which may have been their last as the construction is set to begin in early 2010.

As I had underlined in a post published on 30th of August, 2009, 279 trees will be cut down if the projected passed by the Council of Paris is implemented. Intead of just being happy with voting for the Green party every election, Parisians should be more organised  and listen to the arguments of the Association ACCOMPLIR which played an important role in denouncing the coming disaster.

React !

 This post was first published in French on November 14th, 2009.

According to information given during a meeting in January 2010, it seems that the cutting down of the trees has been delayed and won't take place before the end of 2010.

D'après des informations donnnées lors d'une réunion d'information en janvier 2010, il semble que l'abattage des arbres ait été reporté et n'aura pas lieu avant fin 2010.

DLXXX : (post in English) : Wallace fountains of the 4th arrondissement

Cet article a été publié en français le 15 mai 2009.

Here is the fountain found at the beginning of rue de Rivoli (near Saint-Paul métro).It is one of the few Wallace fountains in the 4th arrondissement.

An interactive map of the 108 Wallace fountains of Paris exists (There are some mistakes but is very useful). There are five of them in the 4th arrondissement. I will translate later into English the posts about the other four fountains.

These fountains are named after Sir Richard Wallace an Anglo-French aristocrat who was born on July 26th 1818 in London and who died on July 20th 1890 in Neuilly (a city in the western suburbs of Paris). That's why in London there's also a Wallace fountain in front of the Wallace collection (a museum which as the Jacquemart museum in Paris shows the private collections of a bourgeois of the 19th century). As a lover of Paris and a philanthrope, Sir Wallace decided to give the city of Paris a network of fountains in an epoch when running water was not readily available.

The website of an organization FWWF (Fontaines Wallace/Wallace Fountains) is dedicated solely to these fountains. There we learn the sculptor was  Charles-Auguste Lebourg (1829-1906) and he also worked on the statues of the Hôtel de ville (about which I wrote so many posts).

The statues were founded by the Val d'Osne Company about which I've already written in a post about the metro signs (Val d'Osne Candelabra).

Thank you to Evan who help me in translating this post into English.

This post was published in French onMay 15th, 2009.

DLXXV (Post in English) : Pont Marie

Voici la traduction d'un article publié en français le 7 mai 2008.

Here is a bridge under which, according to guides on river boats,  lovers have to kiss. It is the oldest bridge of the 4th arrondissement.

Indeed, the oldest bridge of Paris, "Pont Neuf" is not in the 4th arrondissement (It links ther 1st and the 6th arrondissements). Certain bridges of the 4th arrondissement are built on the location of much older bridges such as Petit Pont and Pont au Change. But,  by its building date and its features, Pont Marie is the oldest. That's why it is particularily charming.

It was designed by the architect Christophe Marie. Its building began in 1614 to link the right bank with the Saint-Louis island, when the island was being developped. Christophe Marie took in charge a part of the expenses to build the bridge. In exchange for which, he received some land to be built up on the island. The bridge was finished in 1635. In 1658, at the end of winter melt, two of the arches with twenty two houses on them were carried away by the rising flood. By order of Colbert (One of Louis XIV's most important ministres) the bridge was rebuilt starting in 1679 but without the houses that had collapsed. The remaining houses were not destroyed before 1788 when king Louis XVI decided, because he wanted a more open city, to have them removed.

This bridge is 92m long. It comprises 5 arches of different sizes, the central one being slightly raised. It is a stone bridge but the the pillars' framework, still the original, is wooden. So, except a slight modification in 1850, it is the only bridge of the 4th arrondissement which looks as it did under the Ancien Regime.

This post was published in French on May 7th, 2008.

DLXVI (post in English) : A traffic sign to be translated into French

Voici la traduction en langue anglaise d'un article paru en français le 29 août 2009:

Here is a traffic sign which I took a picture of in Bristol on July 9th,  last year. The translation into French is "cyclistes, laissez la priorité aux piétons".  The Frenchmen (those who speak bad English) could believe it means gay people must be yielded to by cyclists because in slang "pédé" means gay). I wanted to take this picture because I have often observed that in Paris cyclists are not really respectful of pedestrians. Many cyclists prefer to speed up instead of stopping at a crosswalk.

The question must be asked especially because cycle paths cross the pavement used by pedestrians (for instance the cycle path which was inaugurated last September on quai de l'Hôtel de ville).

Of course, I consider bicycles are an improvement in comparison to cars. However, I think that not all cyclists behave responsibly. 

I would not be particularly enthoustiastic about the installation of traffic signs at every steet corner but the message writton on this sign should be kept in mind by more cyclists.

This post was published in French on August 29th, 2009.

DLXIV (post in English) : BHV's pet store, a good sexist joke

Cet article a été publié en français le 28 octobre 2008.

Two years ago, the pet center within BHV (a famous department store in the 4th arrondissement) reopened on the other side of rue de la Verrerie (in front of the main building).

These plastic models of a cat and a dog were placed near the entrance. Presently, as it is cold, these plastic figures are placed inside on display.

One friend of mine made a funny sexist remark about this. She found it very appropriate that BHV had placed the men and the animals' section on the same side of the street. Maybe with the idea that primitive beings should be kept together whereas the women's department remains in the main store.

This kind of sexist remark is politically correct as it is directed against men...

This post was first published in French on October 28th, 2008.

DLIV : Le sapin du parvis Jean-Paul II pour fêter Noël (the Christmas tree on square John Paul II to celebrate Christmas)

 

 Je publie à nouveau cette année une photo du sapin qui se trouve sur le parvis Jean-Paul II juste devant la cathédrale Notre-Dame. Si on compare avec l'an dernier, je trouve que la décoration est beaucoup plus réussie (voir l'article du 23 décembre 2008).

Avec les deux sapins offerts par la Suède que l'on peut voir sur la place de l'Hôtel de Ville, cette année, le 4e arrondissement est gâté en beaux sapins. (voir l'article du 12 décembre 2009).

Joyeux Noël à tous !

This year, I'm publishing once again a photo of the Christmas Tree located on the John Paul II square, right in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. If we were to compare with last year, I find that the decorations are more of a success (see the post published on December 23rd, 2008).

With the two Christmas trees given by Sweden that can be seen on Hôtel de Ville square, this year the 4th arrondissement is spoilded with fir trees. (Have a look at the post published on December 12th 2009)

Merry Christmas to all !

 

 

DLIII : Retour à la tradition pour la crèche de Notre Dame version 2009 (back to tradition for the nativity scene of Notre Dame cathedral in 2009)

Cette année la crèche de Notre-Dame marque un retour à la tradition. Le boeuf et l'âne sont notamment de retour. (Pour se convaincre du changement, regardez les photos publiés dans  l'article publié le 25 décembre 2008 à propos de la crèche de l'an dernier). Comme d'habitude, le "petit Jésus" ne sera pas mis dans la crèche avant le 25 décembre.

Mais, cette anné même les anges sont de retour :

This year, the nativity scene of Notre Dame shows a marked return to tradition. Noticeably, the cow and the donkey are back (To convince yourself, look at the photos published on December 25th 2008 about the nativity scene of last year). As usual, baby Jesus will not be put into the manger before December 25th.

But this year, even, the angels are back !

DL (post in English) : A rooster sculpted by Barye

 Voici la traduction d'un article qui a été publié en français le 14 septembre 2008.

 I started a category about the trees and vegetation of the 4th arrondissement, so why not one about animals as well ?

If you look carefully, you can see there are quite a few (and I'm not talking about pets).

For example, here is a rooster that one wouldn't notice easily. It was sculpted by Antoine-Louis Barye, one of the greatest animal sculptors of the 19th century.

This statue adornes the four corners of the base of the "Colonne de Juillet"  in the  Bastille square.

The rooster is the animal which symbolizes France. The ancient people who lived in the country were called "Gaulois" (Gauls) whose name in Latin was "Galli" and galli in latin means also roosters (coqs in French).

This post was first published into French on September 14th, 2008.